Mental health payments
The Mental Health Service Payment allows a GP to claim a fee if they are called to assess someone for treatment under the Mental Health Act.
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On this page
About the Mental Health Act
Find out about the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 and about the Office of the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
What you can claim
Assessment fees
As a GP, you can claim for each certificate, notice or statement-in-writing that you complete under the Mental Health Compulsory Assessment & Treatment Act.
You can claim:
- $185.63 for an assessment made during ‘business hours’ in the week — 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday
- $236.25 for an assessment made outside those hours — after 6pm, before 8am, on weekends, or on public holidays.
Travel fees
You can also claim a medical travel fee of $1.69 per kilometre. This is for any travel required to complete a certificate, notice or statement-in-writing, for example travel:
- from surgery to residence
- to examine a person
- to return.
How to make a claim
Complete a Mental Health Compulsory Assessment & Treatment Act Claim form.
You must provide the following information for your Claim Form to be accepted:
- Claimants (GP’s) Payee Number
- Claimants (GP’s) Name
- Claimants Address
- Name of Patient Examined
- Date of Service
- Time of Service
- Mileage (number of kilometres)
- Examination Fee
- Mileage Fee
- Total Claimed
- Signature of Claimant and date
- Signature of Officer Authorised by Director Area Mental Health Services and date.
Find the Officer Authorised by Director Area Mental Health Services in your area
The DAMHS is usually nominated by Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) and formally appointed by the Director-General of Health.
The DAMHS should not be the same person who is the HHS service manager or clinical director.
Call Sector Operations to find out who your designated Officer Authorised by Director Area Mental Health Services for your area is.
How to submit your claim
Send your completed claims to:
Mental Health Compulsory Assessment & Treatment Act Claims
Sector Operations
PO Box 1043
Wellington 6140
Get a Mental Health Claim Form
You can download and print the forms here or contact Sector Operations who also print and distribute the forms.
Contact Sector Operations
Call the Sector Operations Contact Centre to find out more.
0800 855 066 Option 2: Claims
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8am – 5pm
Wed: 9.30am – 5pm