Please note, you do not need an Eating Disorder Management Plan to see a psychologist. However, with an Eating Disorder Management Plan you will be eligible for a rebate on your session. For more information, please see our fee page
What is an Eating Disorder Management Plan ?
If your eating disorder is serious, the first step is to visit your doctor.
If your doctor diagnoses you with an eating disorder, he will decide a course of treatment.
In severe cases he will place you on an Eating Disorder Management Plan (EDMP) and recommend sessions with a Psychologist.
For less severe cases, your doctor may suggest a Mental Health Care Plan instead.
An Eating Disorder Management Plan is a series of steps to beat the mental health issues associated with an eating disorder. It will give you a better foundation to overcome your unwanted behavior.
The Eating Disorder Management Plan allows both your doctor and another medical expert (such as a psychologist) to join forces and combat your eating disorder – like a super team.
Under the Mental Health Care Plan, the doctor will assess your eating disorder, identify treatment, and refer you for that treatment. Then your psychologist provides the treatment.
Two heads are better than one. With this approach, you can be confident that all your unique health needs are addressed.
An Eating Disorder Management Plan also allows you to claim money back from medicare for your psychologist sessions.
What is in the Eating Disorder Management Plan?
The Eating Disorder Management Plan consists of seven different parts [2]
- A discussion to identify your issue and your unique needs.
- A formal assessment of the severity of your eating disorder on your mental health.
- A comprehensive physical examination.
- For severe eating disorders, a risk assessment and plan for crisis management.
- Working together to identify the best course of action for your eating disorder.
- Referral to any specialist on your condition (such as a psychologist).
- A review of your progress.
The Eating Disorder Management Plan identifies the support you need for your eating disorder, and outlines clear steps for your recovery.
Both you and the doctor will need to agree on the treatment provided by the Eating Disorder Management Plan before proceeding.
What are the benefits of an Eating Disorder Management Plan?
There are four advantages to using a Eating Disorder management Plan to treat an eating disorder.
- A second opinion
Our services might not be the only solution for you. After a physical examination, your doctor will rule out any health issues that may be contributing to your eating disorder. With the physical health issues taken into account, we can ensure our psychologists give you the right treatment for your eating disorder. - Combined expertise
What’s better than one expert helping you? Two experts! Your doctor and our psychologists will work together to resolve your unique eating disorder. - A better understanding of you
The Eating Disorder Management Plan plan outlines pre-existing conditions and medication you may be taking. With your full health background, we can create a better recovery program for you. - Eligible for Medicare Rebate
Receive a medicare rebate that reduces the cost of each session. Who doesn’t want to save money?
How does medicare work with an Eating Disorder Management Plan?
If you are under an Eating Disorder Management Plan, you are eligible for a refund from Medicare for each session.
The exact amount you get back from Medicare will be determined by the professional who treats you and the length of the session.
For more information, please refer to our billing page.
How many sessions are covered by the Eating Disorder Management Plan?
An Eating Disorder Management Plan will cover up to 40 appointments of treatment with a qualified psychologist.
These 40 sessions must be used within a 12 month period.
Are you eligible for an Eating Disorder Management Plan?
An Eating Disorder Management Plan is given when your eating disorder gets so severe, it’s causing serious health issues.
First, you need to be diagnosed with an eating disorder by your doctor. Eligible eating disorders include…
…or a less common eating disorders such as Night Eating Syndrome, Pica or Rumination Disorder.[2]
However, just because you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder doesn’t mean you automatically get placed on an Eating Disorder Management Plan.
The Eating Disorder Management Plan is for severe eating disorders – where your physical health is being negatively impacted.
To determine if your eating disorder is severe enough you must also meet the following criteria:
- Complete an Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire with a score of 3 or higher, as assessed by your doctor.
- You are rapidly losing weight, frequently binge eating or compensating for your eating disorder 3 or more times per week.
Finally, you must meet at least two of the following:
- Clinically Underweight
If your doctor diagnoses you as clinically underweight, and that weight loss is attributed to your eating disorder. - Your eating disorder is negatively impacting your health
You are experiencing, or are at high risk of experiencing serious health issues due to your eating disorder, such as being at risk of a heart attack. - Be admitted to hospital
You have been admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months, for an eating disorder. - Not responding to eating disorder treatment.
You have been receiving treatment for your eating disorder of the past 6 months, and are showing no signs of improvement.
If you meet some or all of the above criteria, then you should speak to your doctor ASAP.
After a discussion and formal assessment, your doctor will determine if you are eligible for an Eating Disorder Management Plan.[3]
If your eating disorder is not considered severe enough, you may still qualify for a Mental Health Care Plan instead – you should ask your doctor if this is an appropriate alternative.
When should I visit my doctor and ask for an Eating Disorder Management Plan?
If you think you meet the above criteria and are eligible for an Eating Disorder Management Plan, then your eating disorder is severe and your health is at risk.
You should visit your doctor as soon as possible – don’t delay!
During your free consultation, or first session, the psychologists at Happy Body Clinic will learn a lot more about your eating disorder.
If at any point we suspect that your eating disorder is severe enough, we may suggest you consult with your doctor before your next session.
Booking your appointment with your doctor about an Eating Disorder Management Plan
When you book your doctor appointment tell the receptionist that your visit is to discuss an Eating Disorder Management Plan.
This way, your doctor will have enough time to assess you and draw up a plan.
It’s not uncommon for doctors to make their assessment and complete your Eating Disorder Management Plan over multiple appointments.
By being upfront about your visit, you might be able to book a back-to-back session with enough time to complete an Eating Disorder Management Plan assessment – no need to come back at another date.
What should I say to my doctor in regards to an Eating Disorder Management Plan
Everything.
It doesn’t matter how embarrassing or gross your behaviour is, you should tell your doctor every tiny detail about your eating disorder – don’t hold back.
Your doctor will be unable to properly assess the severity of your eating disorder if you skip over the worst parts.
This is why you should choose a doctor you can trust. You need to be able to openly discuss your eating disorder and how it is impacting your life.
You should also raise that you want an Eating Disorder Management Plan, and that there is a psychologist at Happy Body Clinic that you would like to see.
The doctor will decide if this is appropriate for your needs. He may suggest another option that is more appropriate, such as a Mental Health Care Plan.
With all the information on the table, your doctor will be able to identify the best treatment option for you.
How will my doctor assess the severity of my eating disorder?
After discussing your eating disorder, mental health, other background information, and completing a physical examination, your doctor will get you to take a test.
This test is known as the Eating Disorder Evaluation Questionnaire.[4]
This multi-question test helps to determine the severity of your eating disorder.
With all this information, your doctor will discuss the results of your assessment with you, and whether or not an Eating Disorder Management Plan is appropriate.
If you are eligible, you will need to agree with your doctor on the health care options and level of support you receive over your treatment period before moving forward.
Do I need to go back to my doctor again once I have my Eating Disorder Management Plan
Yes!
While an Eating Disorder Management Plan covers up to 40 sessions with a psychologist, you don’t get them all at once.
Initially, your Eating Disorder Management Plan will provide you with 10 psychologist sessions.
The Eating Disorder Management Plan requires you to periodically check in with your doctor. Here you will discuss your progress and any other issues that arise.
If you are making progress, and it is clear that further sessions will help, your doctor will assign another 10 psychologist sessions under the Eating Disorder Management Plan.
Before a doctor can issue the last 20 sessions, you must have an additional two check-ins. One with your doctor and another with a psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist only comes into play if you need additional sessions after the first 20 are used up.The psychiatrist will check that a psychiatric illness isn’t responsible for your eating disorder.
If both the doctor and psychiatrist agree, they will release further sessions under the plan.
With a doctor, psychologist and psychiatrist working together, you can be confident that your unique health issues are being addressed – both mentally and physically!
For more information on how the assessment and review process works, please consult your doctor.
Do I have to have an Eating Disorder Management Plan to see my psychologist?
No. If you have an eating disorder, body image food related issue, we are ready to work with your right now.
However many clients benefit from their doctor’s input, especially where eating disorders have become severe.