People living with complex and severe Eating Disorders can now receive rebates for a greater number of sessions of psychological and dietetic therapy, following welcome changes to the Medicare system in Australia. These changes are a result of many years of advocacy by peak bodies in the Eating Disorder treatment field, providing the opportunity for those eligible to access more intensive and longer term therapies.
The specifics
As of November 1st 2019, people with Eating Disorders who meet specific eligibility criteria will be able to access a greater number of Medicare rebates to contribute to the costs of therapy. These rebates can include:
Up to 40 sessions of eating disorder psychological therapy with an eligible mental health practitioner (within a 12-month period)
Up to 20 dietetic sessions of therapy with an Accredited Practising Dietitian (within a 12-month period)
Who can provide psychological therapy?
Medicare rebates for psychological therapy will be available for sessions with suitably trained Psychologists, Clinical Psychologists, Accredited Mental Health Social Workers, Accredited Mental Health Occupational Therapists, and mental health trained General Practitioners. Information regarding the criteria to qualify as ‘suitably trained’ is currently being negotiated by the peak bodies in the Eating Disorder treatment field. We recommend that you seek out therapists who have extensive training and experience working with people with Eating Disorders.
Who is eligible to receive the additional rebates?
Access to the additional rebates is available to people with complex and severe presentations of Eating Disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED). People who have a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa will automatically be eligible for the increased funding, whereas people with another diagnoses will be assessed by their Doctor according to the following criteria:
· The person has been assessed according to the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) as having significant symptoms
· The person is experiencing frequent binge eating, problematic compensatory behaviours (3 or more occurrences per week), or rapid weight loss
· And the person has at least two of the following:
body weight less than 85% expected weight, which is directly attributable to the Eating Disorder
current or high-risk of medical complications due to eating disorder behaviours and symptoms
serious co-occurring medical or psychological conditions significantly impacting on health
an admission to hospital for an Eating Disorder in the previous 12 months
poor treatment response to evidence based eating disorder treatment over the past six months
Why these changes are important
These changes are welcome for both people receiving therapy and the mental health professionals who provide treatment. Reducing the financial barriers to therapy will assist people to access more intensive and regular therapy, which is necessary to address the complexity of an Eating Disorder.
How to access these extended sessions
Book a double session with your Doctor to discuss your eligibility for the new ‘Eating Disorder Plan’ (EDP) – which your Doctor will complete with you if they assess you as eligible
If you are already seeing a Psychologist (or other mental health professional) and/or Dietitian, take EDP to your session to discuss your treatment plan
If you are not yet receiving therapy, look for mental health practitioners and dietitians who have extensive training and experience in assisting people with Eating Disorders
Your therapist will then provide guidance about when you need to return to your Doctor and/or Psychiatrist for review of your plan
The team at Mind Body Well are pleased that these changes provide us with the opportunity to further support people in the process of recovery. Please reach out to us if you need help and are looking for psychological therapy, eating disorder therapy or dietetic therapy.