MBS items for Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plans — preparation, review, and treatment delivery. Verified from MBS Book July 2026.
Sources & citations
1. Australian Government.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Book — July 2026. Group A36 Eating Disorder Services. Subgroups 1–4. Items 90250–90278. Explanatory notes AN.36.1, AN.36.2, AN.36.3, AN.36.4. Updated November 2025. Available at
mbsonline.gov.au
2. Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Eating Disorders Medicare items overview. Available at
health.gov.au/our-work/eating-disorders
3. Butterfly Foundation. Clinician resources at
butterfly.org.au. Patient helpline: 1800 33 4673.
Fees are from MBS Book July 2026 and are indexed annually — verify at mbsonline.gov.au before billing. This page is for educational reference only and does not constitute billing or financial advice. Always verify item eligibility against the current MBS and your practice's compliance requirements. This site is independent and not affiliated with Services Australia or the Department of Health.
Group A36 — Eating Disorder Services. Items updated November 2025. The EDTMP is a time-limited plan (12 months) with a stepped model of care. Maximum 40 psychological treatment sessions + 20 dietetic sessions per 12-month period. Review item required between each course of 10 sessions.
Patient resource to share: The plain-English
Eating Disorder Treatment Plan patient guide explains the EDTMP in language patients can understand — what they get, how the stepped model works, and what to expect. Consider sharing it at the plan preparation appointment.
Butterfly Foundation helpline for patients:
1800 33 4673 (Mon–Fri 8am–midnight, Sat–Sun 8am–8pm AEST) ·
butterfly.org.au
Subgroup 1 — Preparing an EDTMP: GP items
These items apply to GPs preparing an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan. Two tiers: standard and mental health skills trained (MHST). Item selection depends on consultation duration and whether you have completed recognised mental health skills training.
| Item | Duration | MH Skills? | Schedule fee | Benefit |
|---|
| 90250 |
20–39 min |
Not required |
$85.80 |
100% = $85.80 |
| 90251 |
40+ min |
Not required |
$126.35 |
100% = $126.35 |
| 90252 MHST |
20–39 min |
Required |
$108.95 |
100% = $108.95 |
| 90253 MHST |
40+ min |
Required |
$160.50 |
100% = $160.50 |
Video equivalents available: items 92146 (20–39 min, no MHST), 92147 (40+ min, no MHST), 92148 (20–39 min, MHST), 92149 (40+ min, MHST).
What must be included in the EDTMP
Per MBS Note AN.36.2, preparation must include:
- An opinion on diagnosis of the eating disorder
- Treatment options and recommendations for the following 12 months
- Referral plan to allied health (mental health and dietetic services) and specialists as appropriate
- Goals agreed with the patient (and carer where appropriate)
- Crisis intervention and/or relapse prevention plan, if appropriate
- Discussion of the review schedule throughout treatment
- A copy of the plan offered to the patient and carer
- Suitable education about the eating disorder provided to patient and carer
Subgroup 3 — EDTMP Review: GP items
A review is required before the patient can access the next course of eating disorder psychological treatment services (i.e. before sessions 11–20, 21–30, 31–40). Review items also apply when updating the plan at other times.
| Item | Provider | Schedule fee | Benefit |
|---|
| 90264 |
General practitioner |
$85.80 |
100% = $85.80 |
| 90265 |
Medical practitioner (non-GP, non-specialist) |
$66.90 |
100% = $66.90 |
| 90266 |
Psychiatrist (30+ min, referred) |
$335.05 |
85% = $284.80 |
| 90267 |
Paediatrician (20+ min, referred) |
$160.50 |
85% = $133.00 |
Video review equivalents: 92170 (GP), 92171 (non-GP, non-specialist), 92172 (psychiatrist), 92173 (paediatrician). Additional telehealth items 92176 and 92177 also available — see MBS AN.36.3.
Subgroup 4 — GP-delivered treatment sessions (MHST required)
Practitioners with the required mental health training (see note AN.36.4) can deliver eating disorder psychological treatment (EDPT) sessions directly under items 90271–90278. The patient must have a current EDTMP (in the previous 12 months) and the practitioner must be entered on the Register as eligible to render Focussed Psychological Strategies services.
| Item | Provider | Setting | Duration | Schedule fee |
|---|
| 90271 |
GP |
Consulting rooms |
30–39 min |
$108.20 |
| 90273 |
GP |
Consulting rooms |
≥40 min |
$154.85 |
| 90275 |
Non-GP medical practitioner |
Consulting rooms |
30–39 min |
$86.60 |
| 90277 |
Non-GP medical practitioner |
Consulting rooms |
≥40 min |
$123.90 |
Out-of-rooms equivalents (derived fees, vary by patient count): 90272 (GP, 30–39 min), 90274 (GP, ≥40 min), 90276 (non-GP, 30–39 min), 90278 (non-GP, ≥40 min). Video equivalents (same fees as in-rooms): 92182 (GP, 30–39 min, $108.20), 92184 (GP, ≥40 min, $154.85), 92186 (non-GP, 30–39 min, $86.60), 92188 (non-GP, ≥40 min, $123.90). "Non-GP medical practitioner" = a medical practitioner who is not a GP, specialist or consultant physician. MBS Book Mar 2026, AN.36.4
The stepped model and session counting
The EDTMP uses a stepped model of care. A course of treatment = 10 eating disorder psychological treatment (EDPT) services. The patient must have a review of the EDTMP after each course, before accessing the next.
Sessions that count toward the 40 EDPT maximum include: psychology sessions under Better Access items (2721, 2723, 2725, 2727), allied health items in Groups M6 and M7, and GP treatment sessions (90271–90278). Keep track of the running total — the system does not automatically prevent over-servicing.
EDTMP and Better Access — important interaction: Better Access psychology sessions claimed under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (items 80010, 80110 etc.) count toward the 40 EDPT maximum when accessed by a patient with an EDTMP. The patient's MHTP sessions are not separate if the patient also has an EDTMP and those sessions are claimed as EDPT services. Document carefully.
Patient eligibility — what to document
The referring practitioner is responsible for confirming the patient is eligible. Document clearly:
- Confirmed diagnosis (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, or OSFED)
- Patient is a community patient — not admitted to hospital
- Plan prepared includes all required elements per AN.36.2
- Copy of plan offered to patient and carer where appropriate
Common billing errors
-
Providing treatment sessions without a current plan
The EDTMP expires after 12 months. EDPT services are not claimable if the plan has expired. A new EDTMP must be prepared before sessions resume.
-
Not conducting a review between courses
A review (item 90264) is required before sessions 11–20, 21–30, and 31–40. Psychological treatment services are not available to the patient for the next course without a completed review.
-
Claiming GP treatment items without MHST
Items 90271–90278 (GP-delivered treatment sessions) require the GP to have completed recognised mental health skills training. Verify your training currency before claiming.
-
Not counting Better Access sessions toward the EDPT total
Better Access sessions accessed under an MHTP count toward the 40 EDPT maximum when the patient also has an active EDTMP. Track the combined session count.
-
Applying these items to admitted patients
The EDTMP program applies to community patients only. It cannot be used for services provided to patients admitted to hospital.