FOR some time there has been concern about the effectiveness of the Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Services program, and the Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has committed to an evaluation and review of the scheme.

An update of previous analyses ("$1.5bn blowout in health program", The Australian, 13 October 2008 shows that the uptake of this program continues to grow much faster than predicted, with no signs of any slowing in demand. The number of services provided under this program increased by 44 per cent over the 12 months from June 2007 to June 2008. In this period services provided by GPs grew by 38 per cent, and services provided by mental health professionals (primarily psychologists) grew by 47 per cent.