The Australian Psychological Society (APS) welcomed today's announcement by the Federal Government that Australians with severe eating disorders will be able to access up to 40 psychological sessions each year under Medicare from 1 November 2019.
Currently people with eating disorders can only receive a Medicare rebate for 10 sessions every year.
APS President Ros Knight said ten psychological sessions is inadequate to treat complex mental health disorders such as eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa.
“We know the most cost-effective treatment for eating disorders such as anorexia is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), which challenges learnt ways of thinking” said Ms Knight.
“Evidence shows at least 20 sessions of treatment are needed, and in severe cases at least 40 CBT sessions are needed to restore healthy eating attitudes and behaviours."
"An increase in the number of sessions under Medicare will mean people with eating disorders will now be able to access the sufficient dosage of treatment they need to get better," she said.
Eating disorders are a serious mental illness with severe physical health consequences and one of the highest death rates of any psychological disorder. They affect over 1 million Australians.
The APS also welcomed Government funding of $4 million for new research into better treatment and care but said more needs to be done to help identify people in the early stages of an eating disorder.
"People who don't access effective treatment early experience greater duration and severity of their illness," said Ms Knight. "They then need more prolonged treatment."
The APS has long advocated for increased access to Medicare funded psychological sessions for people with complex mental health needs including eating disorders, severe depression and anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"We urge the Government to consider extending Medicare funding to all complex mental health conditions," said Ms Knight.
For more information, or to arrange an interview call the APS Media team on 03 8662 3358 / 0435 896 444, or email. Find the APS Media team on Twitter: @AustPsych
The APS is the largest professional organisation for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 27,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to people’s lives, through improving psychological knowledge and community wellbeing.