MBS items change. Verify the current descriptor, fee, and rules on MBS Online before billing. This page does not include a fee amount. Last reviewed 27 April 2026.
- Better Access
- Mental Health Occupational Therapist (eligible under Better Access)
Item 80145
Better Access — Mental Health Occupational Therapist (group)
Focussed psychological strategies group service provided in person by an eligible occupational therapist to a group of 4 to 10 patients, at least 60 minutes duration.
Plain-English summary. See MBS Online for the verbatim descriptor of each item.
- TimeAt least 60 minutes
- FrequencyNot capped
- ReferralRequired
- ProfessionMental Health Occupational Therapist (eligible under Better Access)
Requirements to bill
Conditions imposed by the descriptor that must be met to claim this item.
- Each patient in the group must have a current Better Access referral.
- Provider must be an eligible mental health occupational therapist.
- Group size 4 to 10 patients, in person, at least 60 minutes.
- Each session counts toward the patient's annual Better Access group cap (10 group sessions per calendar year).
Your notes must show
Documentation tests — what clinical notes need to record to match what the item asks.
- Date, start time, end time, location, and item number claimed.
- Number of patients in attendance, facilitator(s).
- Session topic and the focussed psychological strategy delivered.
- Per-member: attendance, participation, response, risk concerns flagged.
- Group-level dynamics and any incidents.
- Reference to each member's MHTP goals.
Common audit failures
Patterns the Professional Services Review scheme and Medicare audits flag.
- Session under 60 minutes.
- Per-member attendance not recorded.
- Per-member files contain identifying information about other members.
- No reference to MHTP goals.
- Group size below 4 or above 10.
Related MBS items
- 2715GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (20 to less than 40 minutes)Documentation tests →
- 2717GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (at least 40 minutes)Documentation tests →
- 80020–80025Better Access — Clinical Psychologist (group therapy)Documentation tests →
- 80120Better Access — Registered Psychologist (group)Documentation tests →
- 80170Better Access — Mental Health Social Worker (group)Documentation tests →
- 80125–80140Better Access — Mental Health Occupational Therapist (individual focussed psychological strategies)Documentation tests →
Diagnostic codes commonly billed under this item
ICD-10-AM diagnoses whose Medicare pathway includes this item. Click through to the diagnostic-code reference for differential codes and clinical context.
- F10Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Alcohol UseSubstance Use Disorders
- F11Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Opioid UseSubstance Use Disorders
- F12Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Cannabinoid UseSubstance Use Disorders
- F13Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Sedatives or HypnoticsSubstance Use Disorders
- F14Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Cocaine UseSubstance Use Disorders
- F15Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Other Stimulants Including CaffeineSubstance Use Disorders
- F16Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to HallucinogensSubstance Use Disorders
- F19Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Multiple Drug UseSubstance Use Disorders
- F20SchizophreniaPsychotic Disorders
- F21Schizotypal DisorderPsychotic Disorders
- F22Persistent Delusional DisordersPsychotic Disorders
- F23Acute and Transient Psychotic DisordersPsychotic Disorders
- F24Induced Delusional DisorderPsychotic Disorders
- F25Schizoaffective DisordersPsychotic Disorders
- F28Other Nonorganic Psychotic DisordersPsychotic Disorders
- F29Unspecified Nonorganic PsychosisPsychotic Disorders
- F30Manic EpisodeMood Disorders
- F31Bipolar Affective DisorderMood Disorders
- F32Depressive EpisodeMood Disorders
- F33Recurrent Depressive DisorderMood Disorders
- F34Persistent Mood DisordersMood Disorders
- F35Other Recurrent Mood Disorders — Unipolar ManiaMood Disorders
- F38Other Mood (Affective) DisordersMood Disorders
- F39Unspecified Mood DisorderMood Disorders
- F40Phobic Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F41Other Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F42Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderAnxiety Disorders
- F43Reaction to Severe Stress and Adjustment DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F44Dissociative (Conversion) DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F45Somatoform DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F48Other Neurotic DisordersAnxiety Disorders
- F51Nonorganic Sleep DisordersBehavioural Syndromes
- F52Sexual Dysfunction Not Caused by Organic Disorder or DiseaseBehavioural Syndromes
- F53Mental and Behavioural Disorders Associated with the PuerperiumBehavioural Syndromes
- F54Psychological and Behavioural Factors Associated with Disorders or Diseases Classified ElsewhereBehavioural Syndromes
- F55Abuse of Non-Dependence-Producing SubstancesBehavioural Syndromes
- F60Specific Personality DisordersPersonality Disorders
- F61Mixed and Other Personality DisordersPersonality Disorders
- F62Enduring Personality Changes Not Attributable to Brain Damage and DiseasePersonality Disorders
- F63Habit and Impulse DisordersPersonality Disorders
- F64Gender Identity DisordersPersonality Disorders
- F65Disorders of Sexual PreferencePersonality Disorders
- F66Psychological and Behavioural Disorders Associated with Sexual Development and OrientationPersonality Disorders
- F68Other Disorders of Adult Personality and BehaviourPersonality Disorders
- F80Specific Developmental Disorders of Speech and LanguageDevelopmental Disorders
- F81Specific Developmental Disorders of Scholastic SkillsDevelopmental Disorders
- F82Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor FunctionDevelopmental Disorders
- F83Mixed Specific Developmental DisordersDevelopmental Disorders
- F88Other Disorders of Psychological DevelopmentDevelopmental Disorders
- F89Unspecified Disorder of Psychological DevelopmentDevelopmental Disorders
- F90Hyperkinetic Disorders / ADHDChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F91Conduct DisordersChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F92Mixed Disorders of Conduct and EmotionsChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F93Emotional Disorders with Onset Specific to ChildhoodChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F94Disorders of Social Functioning with Onset in ChildhoodChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F95Tic DisordersChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
- F98Other Behavioural and Emotional Disorders with Onset in ChildhoodChildhood & Adolescent Disorders
In-depth reading in the Library
- Writing Better Access Progress Reports in Half the TimeEvery psychologist under the Better Access initiative must send a progress report to the referring GP after 6 sessions. This guide provides a step-by-step workflow for writing efficient, compliant reports that satisfy Medicare requirements without consuming your entire evening.
- Group Therapy Documentation: A Mental Health Practitioner GuideGroup therapy notes need to capture the group as a whole, each member's participation, and any incidents or risk concerns — without breaching members' privacy across each other's files. This guide details the dual-record structure.
Source authority
Documentation tests on this page reference the descriptor conditions and PSR-audit patterns covered in our existing Library guides. Always confirm current rules against the official descriptor.
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