MBS COVID-19 Telehealth Items and the Eating Disorder Treatment Plan

From March 13, 2020 to September 30, 2020 (inclusive) a suite of temporary MBS items have been made available to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and to provide protection for patients and health care providers.

The telehealth items must be bulk billed for vulnerable patients, concession card holders and children under 16 years, but clinicians can charge a gap fee for other clients. Video conferencing is the preferred substitute for face-to-face consultations however providers can also offer audio-only services via telephone if video is not available. (There are separate items numbers for audio-only).

What the items cover

The item structure provides telehealth Medicare rebates for:

• The development and review of Eating Disorder treatment and management plans,
• Courses of evidence-based eating disorder psychological and dietetic treatment services.
• A review by a psychiatrist or paediatrician

Who can provide services

A service may only be provided where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so.

These items are relevant for medical practitioners in general practice, consultant psychiatrists or consultant paediatricians and eligible Clinical Psychologists and Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Dietitians.

It is expected that practitioners providing services under these items should have appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to provide eating disorders treatment.

For more information on treatment and training see our factsheet: MBS Treatment Options and Training