Medicare Care Plans (Chronic Condition Management Plan)

We welcome patients referred to our osteopaths under a Medicare Chronic Condition Management Plan (Care Plan). This program is designed to support people managing an ongoing health condition (generally lasting 6 months or more) and may provide access to a Medicare rebate for a limited number of allied health appointments each calendar year (as determined by your GP).

Important: we do not bulk bill

Our osteopaths do not bulk bill Care Plan appointments. This means you’ll pay the full consultation fee on the day, and Medicare will pay the rebate back to you after your claim is processed.

Our fees and Medicare rebate

• Initial consultation: $145

  • Medicare rebate: $61.80

  • Out-of-pocket after rebate: $83.20

• Return consultation: $125

  • Medicare rebate: $61.80

  • Out-of-pocket after rebate: $63.20

If you’ve reached your Medicare Safety Net threshold, your rebate may be higher, which can reduce your out-of-pocket cost further.

What you’ll need for your appointment

To claim your rebate, please make sure you bring:

• Your Care Plan referral from your GP (and any required paperwork), and

• Your Medicare card

If you’re unsure whether your referral is valid or how many sessions you have remaining, we recommend confirming this with your GP before booking.

Claiming your rebate

In most cases, your Medicare claim can be processed electronically after payment, and the rebate is paid by Medicare (not the clinic). Processing times can vary depending on Medicare and your bank.

FAQ – Medicare Care Plans & Osteopathy

How many sessions do I get on a Care Plan?
Care Plans can allow up to 5 Medicare-rebated allied health visits per calendar year in total (shared across all eligible allied health providers you see — not 5 per provider). Your GP decides whether a referral is appropriate and how many visits are allocated.

What’s the difference between a Care Plan and bulk billing?
A Care Plan provides a Medicare rebate toward the cost of treatment. Bulk billing means there is no out-of-pocket cost. We do not bulk bill, so you’ll pay the full fee and then receive the Medicare rebate back.

Do I need a new referral each year?
Usually, yes. Care Plan visits reset each calendar year, and your GP will advise if you need an updated Care Plan/referral to continue claiming rebates.

What if I’ve already used some of my Care Plan visits?
That’s completely fine — you can still book in. Your remaining number of Medicare-rebated visits depends on what you’ve already used with any allied health provider that year. If you’re unsure how many you have left, check with your GP.

What happens if I don’t have a valid referral?
You’re still welcome to attend, but you may not be able to claim the Medicare rebate without a valid referral. In that case, your appointment is treated as a standard private consultation.

How do I claim the rebate?
After you pay on the day, your Medicare claim can usually be processed electronically, and Medicare will deposit the rebate into your nominated bank account. Processing times vary (because Medicare likes to keep things exciting).

Can my rebate be higher than $61.80?
Sometimes. If you’ve reached your Medicare Safety Net threshold, your rebate may increase, reducing your out-of-pocket cost.

What do I need to bring?
Please bring:

• Your Care Plan referral from your GP (and any supporting paperwork if provided), and

• Your Medicare card