Submitted to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce (July 2018).

Access to healthy food and nutrition care are significant factors in the management of mental and physical health for people with mental disorders. Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) have an important role in providing care to individuals with mental disorders.

Our submission recommends an extension to the Better Access to Mental Health Care MBS items to include services of APDs.

Introducing MBS items for APDs for individual and group consultations in person and by telehealth would improve access to nutrition services for people with mental disorders.

This submission briefly outlines how the inclusion of APD services is aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice. It provides evidence to support APD services in the care for people with mental disorders.

To read more, download our full submission.