What is a chronic disease management plan in Australia?

A chronic disease management plan — now called a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) — is a plan prepared by your GP to help manage a long-term health condition. It gives you access to up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per year (such as a dietitian, physiotherapist, or podiatrist). The GPMP (GP Management Plan) and TCA (Team Care Arrangement) were replaced by the GPCCMP on 1 July 2025. The plan is bulk-billable — your GP should not charge you a gap fee for preparing it.

What is a chronic disease management plan?

A chronic disease management plan — now called a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) — is a structured plan your GP prepares to help manage a chronic or long-term health condition. It documents your health goals, current treatments, and a plan for follow-up. Having a plan gives you access to up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per year — for example, physiotherapy, dietetics, podiatry, or psychology. From 1 July 2025, the GPCCMP replaced the old GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA).

What happened to the GPMP (GP Management Plan)?

The GP Management Plan (GPMP, MBS item 721) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA, item 723) were both ceased on 1 July 2025. They were replaced by the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP, MBS items 701–707). The new system is time-based rather than setting-based. If you previously had a GPMP, your GP will transition you to the new GPCCMP at your next review. Your entitlement to 5 allied health visits per year is unchanged.

How many allied health visits do I get with a care plan?

With a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP), you can access up to 5 individual Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year. These reset on 1 January each year. You can split them across different provider types — for example, 3 physiotherapy sessions and 2 dietitian sessions. The Medicare rebate per session is approximately $56–$58. Some providers bulk bill under care plans; always ask when booking.

Who is eligible for a chronic disease management plan?

Patients with a chronic or complex medical condition that has been present for at least 6 months or is likely to last 6 months are eligible for a GPCCMP. Common conditions include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, depression, and other ongoing health conditions. Your GP assesses eligibility — there is no set list of qualifying conditions. Ask your GP whether a care plan would be appropriate for your situation.

Does a care plan cost anything?

Creating and reviewing a GPCCMP is fully bulk-billable — your GP should not charge you a gap fee for these appointments. The 5 allied health visits are subsidised by Medicare at approximately $56–$58 per session. Most providers charge above this rebate, so you will usually have a gap to pay. Some providers bulk bill under care plans. Always ask about the gap fee before booking your first allied health appointment.

How is a chronic disease management plan different from a mental health care plan?

These are two separate Medicare programs. A chronic disease management plan (GPCCMP) covers a wide range of chronic conditions and gives you 5 allied health visits including physiotherapy, dietetics, podiatry, and psychology. A mental health care plan (MHTP) specifically covers mental health and gives you up to 10 psychology, social work, or OT sessions per year under the Better Access initiative. If you have both a chronic condition and a mental health condition, you can have both plans — and the sessions are separate and additional to each other.

Chronic Disease Management Plan (GPCCMP) — What It Is & How It Works

How the Medicare chronic disease management system works, what it includes, and what to ask your GP about.

📋 Source: MBS items 965, 967, 10997 (formerly 721, 723, 732). Chronic Disease Management — Services Australia guidelines.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

🇦🇺 Australia only

🔄 Looking for the GP Management Plan (GPMP)? The GPMP (item 721) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA, item 723) were ceased on 1 July 2025 and replaced by the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). Your entitlement to 5 allied health visits per year is unchanged — your GP will transition you to the new plan at your next review. This page explains how the new system works.

ℹ️ This page explains how the Medicare system works — not whether a care plan is right for you. Only your GP can assess that based on your full medical history. The questions to ask your GP are at the bottom of this page.

Step 1 of 3

Where are you at with this?

This just helps tailor the wording of the questions below — it doesn't determine whether a care plan is right for you. Only your GP can decide that.

✅ I've already talked to my GP about an ongoing condition

🗣️ I haven't brought it up yet, but I think I should

🤔 I'm not sure if this applies to me

A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) is a structured plan your GP creates to help manage your chronic condition(s). It documents your health goals, current treatments, actions to take, and when to review. It replaced the old GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) from 1 July 2025 under MBS item 965.

Having a GPCCMP gives you access to up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per year. No separate TCA is needed — a single plan covers everything the old GPMP + TCA did.

Both creating and reviewing the plan are fully bulk-billable — your GP will generally not charge you for these appointments.

🏥 Registered with MyMedicare? If you are registered with a practice through MyMedicare, your care plan must be created and reviewed at that registered practice — not another clinic, even if your preferred GP works there. DoH ↗

Under a GPCCMP, you can access up to 5 individual sessions per calendar year from the following Medicare-registered providers:

Physiotherapy, Exercise physiology, Dietetics, Podiatry, Occupational therapy, Psychology, Social work, Speech pathology, Audiology, Diabetes education, Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Mental health nursing, and Aboriginal health workers.

The 5 sessions can be split across different provider types (e.g. 3 physio + 2 dietitian). Your GP will include referral letters in your care plan.

A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) can be created (item 965), then reviewed every 3–6 months (item 967). A new plan can be prepared if your circumstances change significantly. The 5 allied health sessions reset each calendar year (January to December). Items 721/723/732 ceased Jul 2025.

⏰ Key dates: Your 5 visits reset 1 January each year — use them before December 31 or they're gone. Book your GP review in November/December so your referrals are ready for the new year. What to do after you get your care plan →

If you have a Mental Health Care Plan as well, the psychology sessions under that plan are separate from and in addition to your GPCCMP allied health sessions.

Chronic Disease Management Plan (GPCCMP) — What It Is & How It Works

Where are you at with this?

Which allied health services would help you?

Is this a new plan, or a review?

What Medicare covers for these services