The average out-of-pocket cost for patients who paid gap fees for psychological treatment under Better Access is $78 per consult, the Federal Government has revealed.

The out-of-pocket fees were applied to exactly half of the 11 million consults delivered under the scheme during the last financial year – the rest were bulk-billed.

There has been a long-running debate on the costs faced by patients with mental health issues being cared for through Better Access.

But the figures provided to Australian Doctor were released as Minister for Health Mark Butler considers permanent funding for 20 mental health sessions a year under the scheme after the cap was raised from 10 a year in response to COVID-19.