Information for medical referrers.
Thank you for considering a referral to Michelle Noonan Psychology. Here's what you need to know about eligibility, Medicare access and the paperwork involved, to make the referral process as smooth as possible for you and your patient.
Steps for making a referral.
1. Confirming eligibility for an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan (EDP)
Patients with anorexia nervosa are automatically eligible for an EDP. Patients with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or OSFED may also be eligible, provided they have an EDE-Q global score of 3 or higher, with symptoms such as rapid weight loss, frequent binge eating, or compensatory behaviours occurring three or more times a week, together with at least two of the following:
Body weight less than 85% of expected weight, where weight loss is directly related to the eating disorder
Current or high risk of medical complications
Significant functional impairment resulting from serious comorbid medical or psychological conditions
An overnight hospital admission for an eating disorder in the past 12 months
Inadequate response to evidence-based treatment over the past 6 months, despite active and consistent participation
If your patient doesn't qualify for an EDP, they may still be able to access up to 10 psychological sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Care Plan, and I'm glad to see patients regardless of which referral pathway applies.
2. Completing the referral
You can find templates for GP care plans and reviews here: Eating Disorder Management Plan Referral Template. An Online version of the EDE-Q is also available there if you'd like to use it as part of your assessment.
3. Sessions and reviews
Eligible patients can access Medicare rebates for up to 40 psychological sessions and 20 dietetic sessions over 12 months under an EDP. An initial referral covers sessions 1 to 10, and I'll ask you for a review referral after each further block of 10 sessions (11–20, 21–30 and 31–40). If your patient is likely to need more than 20 psychological sessions within a 12-month period, Medicare requires this further treatment to be endorsed by a psychiatrist, so it's worth arranging that review early if ongoing treatment seems likely.
If you have any questions about a referral, or would like to talk through whether therapy with me is likely to be a good fit for your patient, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
More information on Care Plans and Medicare can be found here.
If you have a patient you're thinking of referring, or have questions about eligibility, Medicare pathways or fit, I'm happy to talk it through before you make the referral.
If you'd like to make a referral, you're welcome to get in touch.