Information for Medical Referrers

Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP) Information for medical referrers:

Referrers, to access an Eating disorder Management Plan referral template, please click here: Eating Disorder Management Plan referral template

Overview of the Eating Disorder Specific Medicare Schedule - The Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP):

On November 1st, 2019, a suite of 64 Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) item numbers were introduced to support eligible patients with an eating disorder under an Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP). 

• Eligible clients are able to access up to 40 sessions of evidence-based eating disorder psychological treatment (within a 12 month period)  under an Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment (EDPT) plan. 

• Eligible clients are able to access up to 20 dietetic services with an Accredited Practising Dietitian (within a 12 month period) under an Eating Disorder Dietetic Treatment (EDDT) plan. 

Who is eligible;

1. All individuals with a clinical diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa are eligible;

2. Clients with the following clinical diagnoses AND who meet the “severity” criteria below are eligible:

• Binge Eating Disorder

• Bulimia Nervosa

• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders/OSFED

What is considered a “severe”** presentation for conditions other than Anorexia Nervosa?

1. The individual has obtained a score of 3 or more on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)

2. The person’s condition is characterised by rapid weigh loss, frequent binge eating, or inappropriate compensatory behaviours (3 or more times per week)

3. The person has AT LEAST TWO of the following indicators:

1. Body weight less than 85% expected weight (where weight loss is directly attributable to the eating disorder);

2. Current or high risk of medical complications due to eating disorder behaviours and symptoms; 

3. Serious comorbid medical or psychological conditions significantly impacting on medical or psychological health status with impacts on function;

4. The individual has been admitted to hospital for an eating disorder within the past 12 months

5. The individual has experienced inadequate treatment response to evidence-based treatment for an eating disorder over the past 6 months despite consistent treatment 

Nourish. Nurture. Thrive. can provide comprehensive assessment (including administration of the EQE-Q) and provide feedback to GPs, or other medical referrers, in order to assist with clarifying whether individuals will be eligible for an EDMP. 

** Please note, Nourish. Nurture. Thrive. would like to acknowledge that the EDMP criteria that determine severity do not adequately represent the severity of suffering, nor the worthiness of care, for individuals afflicted by illness outside of these criteria. Exclusion from the EDMP criteria may compound the stigma and associated shame that those who suffer from an eating disorder often experience, which in turn may exacerbate the condition for some. When providing feedback to individuals that they do not meet the EDMP criteria, reiterating that the individual’s presentation is deserving of care and will be taken seriously, may offer a powerful intervention and protective factor that can mitigate against this risk. 

Understanding the process of referral and ongoing reviews of the EDMP: 

Step 1: Planning - Patient seeks EDMP

The individual attends their GP or ED clinician (e.g. psychologist, dietitian, etc.) for initial assessment to determine if they are eligible for an EDMP (seek eligibility criteria, above)

Step 2: Planning: Patient is referred to practitioners with EDMP

When eligibility criteria are met, a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician can prepare the EDMP and refer the patient for psychological and/or dietetic support.  The Medicare item numbers for this step are provided below: 

Preparing the EDMP for psychological and/or dietetic services

Step 3: Treatment (Dietetic) - Sessions 1-20

The patient is eligible for 20 sessions of Eating Disorder Dietetic Treatment (EDDT). After 20 sessions, the dietitian sends a summary report to the GP.  

Medicare item numbers for the provision of Eating Disorder Dietetic Treatment (EDDT) services by a suitably trained Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD).

Step 3: Treatment (Psychology) - Sessions 1-10

Under the EDMP, the patient commences up to 10 sessions of Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment (EDPT). 

Medicare item numbers for the provision of Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment (EDPT) services by a Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist or Accredited Mental Health Social Worker:

Step 4 - First Review (Psychology):

After the initial course of 10 Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment (EDPT) sessions, the clinician sends a summary report and refers the patient to the GP for the first review. 

Review of an Eating Disorders Management Plan (EDMP) by GP, medical practitioner, consultant psychiatrist or consultant paediatrician.

Step 5: Continue EDPT Treatment (Psychology) - Sessions 11-20

If eligible, patient completes EDPT sessions 11-20

Step 6: Second Review (Psychology)

After sessions 11-20 of EDPT, the clinician sends a summary report and refers the patient to the GP for the second review. 

Review of an Eating Disorders Management Plan (EDMP) by GP or medical practitioner.

In addition to the GP review, after sessions 11-20 a review is also required by a Consultant Psychiatrist or Consultant Paediatrician. Please note, it is recommended that a referral to a psychiatrist or paediatrician be considered early (e.g. at the initial preparation of the EDMP or at the initial review at 10 sessions) to ensure that the waiting period to access this care does not halt treatment. 

Review of an Eating Disorders Management Plan (EDMP) by consultant psychiatrist or consultant paediatrician.

Step 7: Continue EDPT Treatment (Psychology) - Sessions 21-30

If eligible, patient completes EDPT sessions 21-30

Step 8: Third Review (Psychology)

After 30 sessions of EDPT, the GP conducts the third review. 

Review of an Eating Disorders Management Plan (EDMP) by GP or medical practitioner.

Step 8: Continue EDPT Treatment (Psychology) - Sessions 31-40

If eligible, patient completes EDPT sessions 31-40

Step 9: Complete EDPT Treatment (Psychology)

After 40 sessions of EDPT, the clinician sends an summary report to the GP, and the course of treatment under the EDPT has been completed. 

Completing an EDE-Q with your patient (Scoring and Printable form)

In order to determine EDMP eligibility for patients with a diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or OSFED, a completed EDE-Q with a score of 3 or greater is required (please refer to “who is eligible”, above, for further criteria). To access an online EDE-Q with graphed scores, click here

Completing an Eating Disorder Management Plan referral with your patient (GP template)

Please click on the link below for an EDMP referral template (which can be edited online).  Adapted with permission and thanks from the Centre for Integrative Health.

Eating Disorder Management Plan referral template