Quality Improvement Council

Lifestyle Modification Program

Main Resources

What are the Lifestyle Programs?

In April 2007 the Commonwealth announced an initiative to address the growth in Type II Diabetes. The initiative was updated in May 2010 and a few more times since!

  • Locally run, subsidised Lifestyle Modification Programs (LMPs) for eligible patients at risk of developing Type II diabetes,
  • At Risk Diabetes Assessment claimable under time based health assessment items (701 - 707)

There are two funding steams for LMPs - federal government funding for those aged 40-49 [RESET ] and Diabetes Australia Victoria funding [Life!] for those aged over 50 with a past history of gestational diabetes or a past history of ischemic heart disease. Access to Life and Reset is also available for at risk patients through the Work Health Check initiative funded through WorkSafe Victoria .

What do Lifestyle Modification Programs do?

Life Modification Programs provide:

  • Support and assistancce for people to make incremental and sustainable lifestyle changes to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes
  • Education and support programs accredited through the Department of Health & Ageing
  • Group education (maximum 15 in each session)
  • A six month minimum program (minimum eight hours contact per participant)
  • Accredited LMP providers that meet national standards and core competencies
  • Feedback on goals and progress to referring GPs

What is the eligibility for a Lifestyle Modification Programs?

Eligibility is based on age, score on  AUSDRISK tool, exclusion of diabetes and past history.

  • Any patient aged over 40 years who scores over 12 on AUSDRISK and has diabetes excluded.
  • Any person with a past history of gestational diabetes who is over 18 and not currently pregnant.
  • Any person with a past history of ischamic heart diasease, angina or myocardial infarction, aged over 18 and at least three months since diagnosis or last MI.
  • A score of 12 or more on the AUSDRISK Tool is mandatory for a patient to be eligible to be referred to LIFE! unless past history of GD or IHD.
  • The AUSDRISK Tool is mandatory to claim a diabetes at risk health assessment item (see resources page)
  • The correct referral form must be used. Template can be found  here (Do not open in Word if importing into clinical software)
  • Practices who have signed a funding agreement with DA-VIC are eligible for funding for referring patients over the age of 50 years to the LIFE! Program
  • More information available here including instructions on downloading templates into clinical software.

Alternatives if a Patient won't agree to attend the LIFE! Program?

  • Use Lifescripts to help people identify positive changes they can make
  • Diabetes Australia LIFE! phone health coaching information