Enhanced Primary Care Program
(Medicare)
The Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC) is now the Chronic Disease Management (CDM). The CDM is a government initiative that allows people with chronic injuries or ailments to access professional services to assist with the management of their condition with the benefits of a Medicare Rebate. This program allows you to have up to 5 allied health services within the calendar year and the referral is valid for a 12 month period. Consultations under this program are bulk billed through Medicare.
CDM allows General Practitioners (GP) to organise the health care of patients with chronic conditions. A GP can allocate a total of 5 sessions per person, per calendar year which Medicare will help fund. Health providers who can provide sessions include:
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Exercise physiologist
Dietetician
Occupational therapist
Psychologist
Chiropractor
Aboriginal health worker
Audiologist
Diabetes educator
Mental health worker
Osteopath
Speech pathologist
Who is eligible for EPC?
To qualify for the EPC you must have a chronic medical condition that has been present for 3 months or longer that is not being managed well in it's current state. Chronic Conditions include: Musculoskeletal Conditions: such as chronic injuries involving the lower back, neck, shoulders, knees, etc.
Steps to being on the Enhanced Primary Care Plan
1.See a Gerneral Practitioner
To organise an Enhanced Primary Care Plan, a patient must be referred by their general practitioner (GP) and the GP will organise a GP Management Plan (Item 721) and a Team Care Arrangement (Item 723).
2.Call us and make an appointment
After being referred to a Physiotherapist, Chiropractor & Podiatry, appointments can be made for 30- 40 minutes consult.
The Numbers of Treatments
EPC allows for a total of up to 5 rebated consults to any referred allied health practitioner, per year. That could include Physiotherapy, podiatry, Chiropractic etc.
So for instance, your GP may refer you for 5 times
This number is renewed each calendar year, but you will need a new referral each year to access them.
