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.

About the Mental Health Act — Ministry of Health

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.

0800 855 066

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