Access psychology sessions with an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan

Treating an eating disorder involves consistent professional care, which can be expensive and difficult to sustain.

Thankfully, in Australia, an Eating Disorder Treatment & Management Plan (EDP) gives you access to Medicare-subsidised therapy and dietetics services, which can significantly reduce the cost of treatment.

If you're eligible, an EDP offers you a structured way to receive support from psychologists and dietitians, with regular reviews to keep your care on track.

Benefits of an Eating Disorder Treatment & Management Plan

Within a 12-month calendar period, an EDP allows eligible people to access:

• up to 40 individual psychology sessions, and

• up to 20 individual dietetic sessions

However, you can’t access all 40 psychology sessions at once. To access more than the initial 10 sessions, you’ll need to return to your GP for a review and request another referral after every 10 psychology sessions. This step helps ensure your treatment is progressing and remains clinically appropriate.

These sessions must also be recommended in your EDP and delivered by a registered provider who meets the criteria under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). Eligible psychological treatments include evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), family-based treatment, or interpersonal therapy.

You can learn more about EDP through the resources on:

• Services Australia

• National Eating Disorders Collaboration

Who can get an EDP?

To qualify for an EDP, you need to be formally diagnosed with an eating disorder. This includes:

• Anorexia nervosa (automatically eligible)

• Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), or OSFED, if your condition meets severity and risk thresholds

If you don’t have a diagnosis yet, your GP can begin the assessment. They might use questionnaires like the EDE-Q or refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.

The full criteria are listed on Services Australia.

Who can prepare an EDP?

Only certain health professionals can create an EDP, including:

• General Practitioners (GPs)

• Psychiatrists

• Paediatricians

Your doctor will assess your symptoms, confirm your diagnosis, and prepare a detailed plan that outlines the recommended services, including how many psychology and dietetic sessions you need.

Your doctor will then submit the plan to Medicare and provide referrals for up to 10 psychology sessions at a time. Once you’ve used up your 10 sessions, you’ll have to return to your doctor for reviews and re-referral if you want to access more sessions.

How to access psychology sessions with an EDP?

Step 1: See your doctor

Book an appointment with your GP or psychiatrist (or a paediatrician if the patient is a child), and let them know you want to discuss an Eating Disorder Treatment & Management Plan.

It may help to ask for a longer consultation so there’s enough time to go through your medical history, symptoms, and concerns.

If you already have a diagnosis, bring any documents or letters from specialists. If not, your doctor can assess whether you meet the criteria for an EDP.

Step 2: Your doctor prepares your plan and referral

If you’re eligible, your doctor will prepare the EDP. This includes your:

• Diagnosis

• Treatment goals

• Number of recommended psychology and dietetic sessions

• Referrals to clinicians under Medicare

You’ll be given an initial referral for up to 10 psychology sessions. If dietetic support is also recommended, you may receive a referral for up to 20 dietetic sessions at once.

Once the plan is complete, your GP will lodge it through Medicare's online system, allowing providers to claim the relevant rebates.

Step 3: Begin therapy

Once your EDP is active and your GP has given you a referral, you can start therapy with a psychologist. Make sure the provider is eligible to deliver services under the EDP and is registered with Medicare for eating disorder treatment.

If you’re not sure who to see, Talked can help you find a psychologist who has experience supporting people with eating disorders. You can use Talked’s matching tool or manually browse psychologists by specialty, availability, and approach. After each eligible session, we will process your rebates for you, and Medicare will deposit your rebate straight into your bank account.

Talked also offers free 15-minute consultations with therapists. This gives you a chance to ask questions, get a feel for their style, and decide if they’re the right fit before committing to a full session. 

Step 4: See your doctor for EDP review

After each block of 10 psychology sessions, Medicare requires a review with your doctor before you can continue. These check-ins help ensure your treatment is effective and appropriate.

Your doctor will decide whether to issue another referral for the next 10 sessions.

After 12 months, your EDP expires. If you still need support, you can return to your GP to discuss preparing a new plan.

Having an EDP can be incredibly helpful for anyone with an eating disorder or who's caring for someone with this condition. If you don't already have an EDP, talk to your doctor about getting one, so you can begin supporting not only your physical health but also your emotional and mental wellbeing.