If you’re managing a long-term health condition in Australia, there’s a good chance you’re entitled to significant support through Medicare that you might not know about.
It’s called a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan — and for millions of Australians living with conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and many others, it’s one of the most practically useful things their GP can do for them.
Yet many people have never heard of it, or aren’t sure whether their condition qualifies, or don’t know what it actually gets them.
This guide explains exactly what a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan is, who is eligible, what it covers, and how to get one through your GP in Sunshine, Melbourne.
What Is a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan?
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) is a structured care plan prepared by your GP that outlines your health goals, treatment approach, and the health professionals who will be involved in your care. It’s a Medicare-funded service designed specifically for Australians living with chronic or terminal medical conditions.
The plan serves two main purposes:
First, it gives you and your GP a clear, agreed framework for managing your condition — including what you’re trying to achieve, what actions you’ll take, and who else will be supporting you.
Second, and critically for most patients, it unlocks access to Medicare-subsidised allied health services — meaning you can see physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, exercise physiologists, podiatrists, and other health professionals with a Medicare rebate, significantly reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
The GPCCMP is now the central framework for chronic condition management in Australia following significant updates to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) that took effect on 1 July 2025. These changes replaced the previous GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements with a single, streamlined plan.
More than 3.8 million Australians accessed chronic disease management services in a single year prior to the recent reforms — making this one of the most widely used Medicare programs in the country.
Who Is Eligible for a Chronic Condition Management Plan?
This is the question most people ask first — and the answer is broader than many expect.
You are eligible for a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan if you have at least one medical condition that has been, or is likely to be, present for six months or longer — or if your condition is terminal.
Importantly, there is no fixed list of qualifying conditions. The eligibility criterion focuses on the nature and duration of the condition, not the specific diagnosis. Whether a patient benefits from a structured management plan is ultimately a clinical judgement made by your GP.
Conditions that commonly qualify include (but are not limited to):
- Diabetes (type 1 and type 2)
- Heart disease and cardiovascular conditions
- Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Chronic back pain and musculoskeletal conditions
- Chronic kidney disease
- Cancer
- Stroke and neurological conditions
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Chronic mental health conditions (where supported by a care plan)
- Chronic pain — even where the specific underlying cause has not been fully diagnosed
- Thyroid disorders
- Osteoporosis
Even if your diagnosis isn’t finalised, you may still qualify. For example, if you’ve had chronic pain for more than six months and the exact cause is still being investigated, your GP can put a management plan in place to support you in the meantime.
If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies, the most straightforward thing to do is raise it with your GP at your next appointment.
What Does a Chronic Condition Management Plan Include?
When your GP prepares a GPCCMP, they work with you to develop a personalised plan that typically covers:
Your health goals — what you’re hoping to achieve through your care. These might be things like improving mobility, reducing pain, managing blood sugar levels, losing weight to reduce cardiovascular risk, or improving mental health and quality of life.
Your current treatment — medications, lifestyle recommendations, monitoring requirements, and any other management strategies already in place.
Actions you agree to take — your personal commitments to your own health management, such as dietary changes, exercise targets, or medication adherence.
The health professionals involved in your care — your GP, any specialists, and allied health providers who will contribute to your ongoing management.
Referrals to allied health services — if your condition would benefit from physiotherapy, dietetic support, psychology, podiatry, or other services, your GP can arrange Medicare-subsidised referrals as part of the plan.
You receive a copy of your plan, and it’s added to your medical record. The plan is a living document — it’s reviewed regularly (at least every 12 months, and potentially every three months where your condition changes significantly), and updated as your health needs evolve.
What Allied Health Services Can You Access?
This is where the plan becomes genuinely valuable in practical terms.
With a GPCCMP in place, you can access up to 5 individual Medicare-subsidised allied health services per calendar year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can access up to 10 services per calendar year.
The range of allied health professionals you can see through this program is extensive. Eligible services include:
- Physiotherapy — for musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, and mobility
- Psychology — for mental health support related to chronic illness, anxiety, depression, and adjustment
- Dietetics and nutrition — particularly important for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and digestive conditions
- Exercise physiology — for structured exercise programs tailored to your condition
- Podiatry — especially for patients with diabetes, arthritis, or circulation issues affecting the feet
- Occupational therapy — for function and independence, particularly following stroke or neurological conditions
- Speech pathology — for swallowing and communication difficulties
- Audiology — for hearing-related conditions
- Social work — for support with the psychosocial impact of chronic illness
- Chiropractic and osteopathy — for musculoskeletal concerns
- Diabetes education services — for structured diabetes self-management education
Additionally, patients with type 2 diabetes who have a GPCCMP may be eligible for up to 8 group allied health sessions per calendar year, in addition to their 5 individual services.
The Medicare rebate covers all or a significant portion of the cost of each session, depending on whether the provider bulk bills for CDM services. If a provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, there is no out-of-pocket cost to you.
What Changed in 2025?
If you’ve heard of a “GP Management Plan” or “Team Care Arrangement” before, these are the previous Medicare items that have now been replaced.
From 1 July 2025, the current GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements were replaced with a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. This is the first major change to the framework in almost 20 years.
The key practical changes for patients are:
Simpler referral process. Under the new framework, referral letters replace more formal referral forms. Your GP no longer needs to name a specific provider — a referral to “a physiotherapist” is sufficient, giving you more flexibility in choosing who you see.
No more team care arrangement required. Previously, accessing allied health services required both a GP Management Plan and a separate Team Care Arrangement. These are now combined into a single plan.
Plan needs to be current. To continue accessing allied health services, your GPCCMP needs to have been prepared or reviewed within the previous 18 months. This makes regular reviews with your GP important.
MyMedicare registration matters. Patients registered through MyMedicare are required to access their GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and review items through the practice where they are registered. Patients not registered for MyMedicare can still access items through their usual GP.
Existing plans are protected. If you had a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement in place before July 2025, these remain valid for accessing allied health services until 1 July 2027, giving you time to transition to the new framework.
How Does the Plan Work in Practice? A Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s what to expect if you’re getting a GPCCMP for the first time:
Step 1: Talk to your GP. Raise your chronic condition and ask whether a management plan would be appropriate for your situation. Your GP will assess your eligibility and whether a structured plan would benefit your care.
Step 2: Prepare the plan together. Your GP will work with you to document your goals, current management, agreed actions, and the health professionals who will be involved. This is usually done in a longer consultation — it’s not a quick add-on to a regular appointment, so it’s worth booking time specifically for it.
Step 3: Receive your copy. Once the plan is finalised and you’ve agreed to it, you’ll receive a copy to take home. Your GP keeps one in your medical record.
Step 4: Get your allied health referrals. If your plan identifies allied health support as beneficial, your GP will provide referrals. You then book directly with the relevant provider — physiotherapist, dietitian, psychologist, etc. — and use your Medicare rebate at each appointment.
Step 5: Attend your review appointments. Your GP will schedule regular reviews of the plan — at least every 12 months, or sooner if your condition changes significantly. Reviews are important because they keep your plan current and ensure your allied health referrals remain valid.
How Does This Differ from a Mental Health Care Plan?
This is a common point of confusion — and an important one to clarify.
A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) is a separate Medicare pathway, specifically designed for people with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It gives eligible patients access to up to 10 subsidised psychology sessions per calendar year.
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) is for people with chronic physical (or physical and mental) health conditions — and can also include referrals to psychology as one of the 5 allied health services, particularly where mental health is a complication of a chronic condition.
The two plans are distinct and serve different purposes, but it’s possible for one person to have both — for example, someone managing diabetes who also has clinical depression might benefit from a GPCCMP for their diabetes management and a MHCP for their mental health support. Your GP can advise which is most appropriate for your situation.
Does It Cost Anything to Get a Chronic Condition Management Plan?
The preparation of the management plan itself is Medicare-funded — so if you present your Medicare card, there should be no gap fee for the plan itself, particularly at a bulk-billing practice.
The allied health services you access through the plan may or may not have an out-of-pocket cost, depending on whether the provider bulk bills for chronic disease management services. Many allied health providers do bulk bill for CDM referrals, meaning your 5 appointments cost you nothing. Others charge a gap fee on top of the Medicare rebate. It’s worth asking the allied health provider about their fees before your first appointment.
At Central Health Clinic in Sunshine, our GPs bulk bill eligible patients, and we can help you understand the costs associated with any allied health referrals we arrange as part of your management plan.
How Often Is the Plan Reviewed?
Your GP can review your plan once every 3 months, though more frequent reviews are possible where there’s a significant change in your condition. In practice, most patients have their plan reviewed once or twice a year unless something major changes.
Regular reviews matter for two reasons. First, they give you and your GP an opportunity to check whether your goals are being met and adjust the plan if needed. Second, they ensure your plan remains current — which is now required for continued access to Medicare-subsidised allied health services.
It’s worth keeping track of when your plan was last reviewed and following up with your GP if it’s approaching 18 months without a review.
Do You Need to Be Registered with MyMedicare?
MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration system that links you to a specific GP practice. You don’t need to be registered to access a GPCCMP — if you’re not registered with MyMedicare, you can still access management plan items through your usual GP.
However, if you are registered with MyMedicare, you’ll need to access your GPCCMP through the practice where you’re registered. This is designed to support continuity of care — ensuring that your managing GP is also the one overseeing your long-term plan.
You can register for MyMedicare through your Medicare Online Account, the Express Plus Medicare mobile app, or by filling in a form at your GP practice.
When Should You Ask Your GP About a Chronic Condition Management Plan?
The short answer: if you have a condition that’s been present for six months or longer and is affecting your quality of life, it’s worth raising with your GP.
You should particularly consider asking about a GPCCMP if:
- You have a diagnosed chronic condition and haven’t had a formal management plan put in place
- You’re managing your condition with your GP alone and feel you would benefit from physiotherapy, dietetics, exercise physiology, psychology, or other allied health support
- Your condition has recently changed or worsened and your current approach needs revisiting
- You have multiple chronic conditions and feel your care is fragmented or uncoordinated
- You’ve been told you need allied health support but are concerned about the cost
- You’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patient — you’re eligible for 10 allied health services per year rather than 5, and your GP can discuss additional supports available to you
You don’t need to wait until your condition is severe or complex. A management plan can be beneficial at any stage of a chronic condition — and earlier engagement with allied health support often leads to better long-term outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions qualify for a Chronic Disease Management Plan in Australia? There is no fixed list of qualifying conditions. You’re eligible if you have at least one medical condition that has been, or is likely to be, present for six months or longer — or a terminal condition. This includes diabetes, heart disease, asthma, COPD, arthritis, chronic pain, cancer, stroke, thyroid disorders, and many others. Eligibility is determined by your GP based on your individual circumstances.
How many allied health services can I get under a Chronic Disease Management Plan? Most patients can access up to 5 individual Medicare-subsidised allied health services per calendar year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can access up to 10. Patients with type 2 diabetes may also be eligible for up to 8 group allied health sessions on top of their individual services.
Is a Chronic Disease Management Plan free? The preparation of the plan itself is Medicare-funded and should cost you nothing at a bulk-billing practice. Whether your allied health sessions are free depends on the individual provider — some bulk bill for chronic disease management referrals (no out-of-pocket cost), while others charge a gap fee. Ask your allied health provider about their fees before your first appointment.
How is a Chronic Disease Management Plan different from a Mental Health Care Plan? A Mental Health Care Plan is specifically for mental health conditions and gives you access to up to 10 subsidised psychology sessions per year. A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan is for chronic physical conditions (or combined physical and mental health conditions) and gives you access to up to 5 allied health sessions across a wider range of disciplines. It’s possible to have both, depending on your situation.
How long does a Chronic Disease Management Plan last? There’s no fixed end date, but your plan needs to be reviewed at least every 18 months for your allied health referrals to remain active. Your GP can review the plan every 3 months, and more frequently if your condition significantly changes.
What happened to the old GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements? From 1 July 2025, these were replaced by the new GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. Existing plans from before July 2025 remain valid for accessing allied health services until 1 July 2027. If you had an old-style plan in place, your GP can transition you to the new framework at your next review.
Do I need a referral from a specialist to get a Chronic Disease Management Plan? No. Your GP prepares the plan directly. You do not need a specialist referral first. However, if your condition involves specialists as part of your care, they can be included in the management plan.
How Central Health Clinic Helps?
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan is one of the most tangible ways Medicare supports Australians living with long-term health conditions. It’s not just paperwork — it’s a structured, personalised care approach that opens the door to a team of allied health professionals who can meaningfully improve your health and quality of life.
If you’re managing a chronic condition and haven’t discussed a management plan with your GP, it’s a conversation worth having at your next appointment.
At Central Health Clinic in Sunshine, our GPs prepare and review GP Chronic Condition Management Plans for patients with a wide range of chronic conditions. We bulk bill eligible patients and can arrange referrals to allied health services as part of your plan. Book an appointment today to find out whether you’re eligible and what support is available to you.
