How do I use my care plan allied health visits?

Your GP will give you referral letters to specific allied health providers (physiotherapist, podiatrist, dietitian, exercise physiologist, psychologist, etc.) as part of your GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). You choose the provider, book the appointment, and bring the referral letter and Medicare card. Medicare rebates a portion of each visit. You get up to 5 individual allied health visits per calendar year (January to December), which you can split across different providers.

Do I have to pay a gap for allied health visits on a care plan?

The Medicare rebate for allied health visits under a care plan is approximately $55-58 per session. Many providers charge $80-130 per session, so you may pay a gap of $20-75. Some providers bulk bill care plan patients — you pay nothing. Always ask about fees before booking. The gap varies between providers and locations.

When do my 5 allied health visits reset?

Your 5 individual allied health visits reset on 1 January each year. They are based on the calendar year, not from the date your care plan was created. If you have visits remaining in December, use them before January — they do not roll over. Your GP needs to review and update your care plan before you can continue using visits in the new year.

Can I choose my own allied health provider?

Yes. Your GP writes the referral, but you choose which provider to see. They must be a registered allied health professional who provides services under Medicare. You can search for providers on HotDoc, HealthEngine, or your local PHN directory. You can also ask your GP for a recommendation — they often know providers who bulk bill or have shorter waiting times.

GP Care Plan — What Is It & What Happens Next?

You have a care plan. Here's how to use your 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health visits.

📋 Source: MBS items 965, 967, 10997 (replaced former 721/723/732 from Jul 2025). Services Australia — Chronic Disease Management guidelines.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

🇦🇺 Australia only

Step by step

1. Your GP gives you referrals. As part of your your GPCCMP, your GP writes referral letters to specific types of allied health professionals. These referrals specify which provider types you can see.

2. Choose your provider. You pick which physiotherapist, podiatrist, dietitian, etc. to see. Your GP may recommend someone, or you can search yourself. Always ask if they bulk bill care plan patients before booking.

3. Book and attend. Call the provider, tell them you have a care plan (GPCCMP under item 965), and bring your referral letter and Medicare card to the appointment. The provider will claim the Medicare rebate at the time of your visit.

4. Use your 5 visits wisely. You get up to 5 individual allied health visits per calendar year (January–December). You can split them across different providers — for example, 3 physio + 2 podiatry, or 5 dietitian visits.

5. Review with your GP. Your GP will review your care plan at least once a year. Before the new calendar year, book a review so your referrals are updated and you can continue using visits in the new year.

Which allied health providers can I see?

Provider	Good for	Typical gap
Physiotherapist	Chronic pain, arthritis, post-surgery rehab, back pain, mobility	$0–40
Podiatrist	Diabetes foot care, nail care, heel pain, orthotics	$0–30
Dietitian	Diabetes, weight management, heart disease, kidney disease, IBS	$0–40
Exercise physiologist	Chronic disease exercise programs, cardiac rehab, diabetes, obesity	$0–30
Psychologist	Chronic pain coping, adjustment to illness, health anxiety	$0–60
Occupational therapist	Adapting daily activities, home modifications, hand therapy	$0–30
Speech pathologist	Swallowing difficulties, voice disorders, communication after stroke	$0–40
Diabetes educator	Insulin management, blood sugar monitoring, diabetes self-management	$0–20
Audiologist	Hearing assessment, hearing aid fitting	$0–40

Medicare rebate is approximately $55–58 per session. Gap = provider fee minus rebate. Some providers bulk bill (gap = $0). Ask before booking.

Key rules to know

5️⃣5 individual visits per calendar year. Resets 1 January. Does not roll over. Use them or lose them. 📅Calendar year, not plan date. If your plan was created in October, you still only get 5 visits until 31 December, then 5 more from 1 January. 🔄Plan review required. Your GP must review your care plan (item 967) before you can get new referrals for the next calendar year. Book a review in November/December. 🔀Split across providers. You can use your 5 visits with different providers (3 physio + 2 podiatry, etc.). Your GP specifies which types in the care plan. 🧠Psychology is separate. If you also have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, your 10 psychology sessions are IN ADDITION to your 5 care plan visits. They are separate Medicare allocations. 👤You choose the provider. Your GP writes the referral type (e.g. "physiotherapy"), but you pick which physio to see. 💰Ask about fees first. Some providers bulk bill care plan patients. Others charge a gap. Always ask before booking.

Finding a provider

Ask your GP — they often know local providers who bulk bill care plan patients or have shorter waits.

HotDoc and HealthEngine — search by provider type and filter for care plan/bulk billing.

Your local PHN — Primary Health Networks often have directories of allied health providers in your area. Find your PHN →

Community health centres — often have allied health on-site with no or minimal gap for care plan patients.

Medicare only subsidises 5 individual allied health visits per year under a care plan. If you need more, options include:

— Pay privately for additional sessions (no Medicare rebate)

— Check if your private health insurance extras cover provides rebates for allied health

— Ask about group sessions — some allied health services run group programs that count as group visits (separate from your 5 individual visits)

— Community health centres sometimes offer additional sessions at low or no cost

— If you also have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, your 10 psychology sessions are separate and additional

— DVA and NDIS patients may have different entitlements — check with your GP

Your GP reviews your care plan at least once a year (MBS item 967). During the review they will:

— Assess how your condition is going

— Review feedback from your allied health providers

— Update your management goals

— Write new referrals for the next period

— Check if you need different types of allied health support

Book a review before the end of the calendar year so your new referrals are ready for January. The review is a standard GP consultation and is usually bulk billed.

Yes. You can change to a different provider of the same type (e.g. switch physiotherapists) at any time. Your remaining visits stay valid. You may need your GP to update the referral with the new provider's name.

If you want to change to a different TYPE of provider (e.g. swap podiatry visits for dietitian visits), you need your GP to update your care plan referrals. This requires a brief appointment.