Living with a chronic condition often means juggling more than one health issue. There are appointments to keep, medications to manage, and sometimes several health professionals involved in your care.
These things can feel overwhelming to coordinate on your own.
That’s exactly what a GP chronic disease management plan is designed to help with. It’s a Medicare-supported way for your GP to map out your care, set goals with you, and connect you with the right support in just one place.
Here’s everything you need to know about what a chronic disease management plan involves, who’s eligible, and how to get one at Balwyn Central Medical.
Why a Management Plan Makes a Difference
When you’re managing an ongoing condition, healthcare can easily become fragmented. A bit of advice here, a referral there, with no one keeping the whole picture in view. But a structured plan can help change that.
With a plan in place, your GP has documented your health goals, everyone involved in your care is working from the same information, and you have subsidised access to allied health services that would otherwise cost more out of pocket. Rather than reacting to problems as they arise, you and your GP take a proactive, planned approach to keeping you well.
What Is a Chronic Disease Management Plan?
A Medicare chronic disease management plan is a written plan your GP develops with you if you’re living with a chronic condition. One that’s been present, or is likely to be present, for six months or more. A GP chronic disease management follows the same basic framework, and importantly, there’s no fixed list of qualifying diseases.
The current plan is called a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). If you’ve had one of these before, you might remember it under older names the GP Management Plan (item 721) and Team Care Arrangement, which were combined into this single plan on 1 July 2025.
Whichever version applies to you, the plan covers the same essentials:
Your health goals — agreed between you and your GP, not handed to you
The written plan itself — kept on your file and shared with you
Referrals to allied health — where other professionals should be involved
A care plan review schedule — so the plan stays current as your needs change
Am I Eligible? GP Management Plan Eligibility in Australia
GP management plan eligibility (Australia-wide) comes down to one main question: do you have a chronic condition that’s likely to last six months or more? There’s no set list of conditions. It’s a clinical judgement your GP makes with you.
Conditions commonly managed this way include:
Diabetes — type 1 or type 2
Respiratory conditions — asthma or COPD
Cardiovascular disease — including heart disease and high blood pressure
Musculoskeletal conditions — arthritis and chronic back pain
Chronic pain — where it’s ongoing and affects daily life
Some mental health conditions — where a coordinated approach helps
If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies, the simplest first step is to book a longer appointment and ask. Even if a plan isn’t the right fit yet, your GP can still talk through other ways to manage your condition well.
How to Get a GP Management Plan
Wondering how to get a GP management plan? The process is straightforward:
Book a longer consultation — with your usual GP at Balwyn Central Medical, and let reception know it’s for a chronic disease management plan so enough time is set aside
Talk it through — your GP reviews your condition, goals, and the support that would help
Review it regularly — a care plan review can happen as often as every three months, and at least once every 18 months to keep your allied health access active
What Allied Health Support Does It Cover?
One of the most valuable parts of a chronic disease management plan is allied health rebates and access to allied health professionals relevant to your condition. Depending on your needs, this may include:
Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists — for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular conditions
Dietitians and diabetes educators — for a diabetes management plan or weight-related concerns
Podiatrists — for foot, circulation, and mobility issues
Psychologists and occupational therapists — for mental health and daily-function support
Other allied health — speech pathology, audiology, osteopathy and chiropractic, where relevant
Once your GP arranges the referral, you can generally access rebates for up to five allied health visits per calendar year, either five with one provider or a mix across services. Your GP oversees this as part of ongoing general practitioner care coordination, so everyone stays on the same page.
What About Fees and Bulk Billing?
When it comes to GP management plan bulk billing, here’s the good news: GP Management Plans are bulk billed for all patients who have a valid Medicare card at Balwyn Central Medical. Eligible Health Assessments and Home Medication Reviews are treated the same way.
Because fees are reviewed from time to time, you’ll always find the current amounts on our fees page, or you can simply ask our reception team when you book.
When to See Your GP
Book an appointment rather than waiting if:
Your chronic condition is getting worse or harder to manage
You’re due, or overdue, for your plan review
A new symptom is worrying you
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Getting the Most from Your Management Plan
A chronic disease management plan that Balwyn patients set up with their GP works best when it’s treated as a living document, reviewed regularly and adjusted as your health changes. With clear goals, coordinated allied health support, and your GP keeping the whole picture in view, managing a chronic condition becomes far less overwhelming.
If you think a chronic management plan could help you, our Balwyn GP clinic team is here to talk it through.
The information in this article is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you’re concerned about your health, book an appointment with your GP at Balwyn Central Medical or call (03) 9830 2300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a specific diagnosis to get a management plan? Not necessarily. There’s no fixed list of qualifying conditions.
What matters is whether your condition has been present, or is expected to be present, for six months or longer. Your GP uses their clinical judgement to work out whether a plan is right for your situation.
What happened to the old GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement? From 1 July 2025, the GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) were replaced by a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP).
If you already had a GPMP or TCA before that date, you can keep using it until 30 June 2027, after which you’ll move to a GPCCMP.
How often is my plan reviewed? Reviews can happen as often as every three months if your GP thinks it’s clinically appropriate, though most patients won’t need one that often.
To keep accessing Medicare-subsidised allied health visits, your plan needs to have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months.
Can I see allied health providers outside Balwyn Central Medical? Yes. Your GP can refer you to allied health professionals in the community as part of your plan, though many patients find it more convenient to use our on-site physiotherapy, dietetics and other allied health services to keep everything under one roof.
Does a management plan cost anything? For most patients, no. GP Management Plans are bulk billed for all patients who have valid Medicare cards at Balwyn Central Medica. You’ll find current details on our fees page, or ask our reception team when you book.
What is a GP Chronic Disease Management Plan? A Guide for Balwyn Patients
Living with a chronic condition often means juggling more than one health issue. There are appointments to keep, medications to manage, and sometimes several health professionals involved in your care.
These things can feel overwhelming to coordinate on your own.
That’s exactly what a GP chronic disease management plan is designed to help with. It’s a Medicare-supported way for your GP to map out your care, set goals with you, and connect you with the right support in just one place.
Here’s everything you need to know about what a chronic disease management plan involves, who’s eligible, and how to get one at Balwyn Central Medical.
Why a Management Plan Makes a Difference
When you’re managing an ongoing condition, healthcare can easily become fragmented. A bit of advice here, a referral there, with no one keeping the whole picture in view. But a structured plan can help change that.
With a plan in place, your GP has documented your health goals, everyone involved in your care is working from the same information, and you have subsidised access to allied health services that would otherwise cost more out of pocket. Rather than reacting to problems as they arise, you and your GP take a proactive, planned approach to keeping you well.
What Is a Chronic Disease Management Plan?
A Medicare chronic disease management plan is a written plan your GP develops with you if you’re living with a chronic condition. One that’s been present, or is likely to be present, for six months or more. A GP chronic disease management follows the same basic framework, and importantly, there’s no fixed list of qualifying diseases.
The current plan is called a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). If you’ve had one of these before, you might remember it under older names the GP Management Plan (item 721) and Team Care Arrangement, which were combined into this single plan on 1 July 2025.
Whichever version applies to you, the plan covers the same essentials:
Am I Eligible? GP Management Plan Eligibility in Australia
GP management plan eligibility (Australia-wide) comes down to one main question: do you have a chronic condition that’s likely to last six months or more? There’s no set list of conditions. It’s a clinical judgement your GP makes with you.
Conditions commonly managed this way include:
If you’re unsure whether your condition qualifies, the simplest first step is to book a longer appointment and ask. Even if a plan isn’t the right fit yet, your GP can still talk through other ways to manage your condition well.
How to Get a GP Management Plan
Wondering how to get a GP management plan? The process is straightforward:
What Allied Health Support Does It Cover?
One of the most valuable parts of a chronic disease management plan is allied health rebates and access to allied health professionals relevant to your condition. Depending on your needs, this may include:
Once your GP arranges the referral, you can generally access rebates for up to five allied health visits per calendar year, either five with one provider or a mix across services. Your GP oversees this as part of ongoing general practitioner care coordination, so everyone stays on the same page.
What About Fees and Bulk Billing?
When it comes to GP management plan bulk billing, here’s the good news: GP Management Plans are bulk billed for all patients who have a valid Medicare card at Balwyn Central Medical. Eligible Health Assessments and Home Medication Reviews are treated the same way.
Because fees are reviewed from time to time, you’ll always find the current amounts on our fees page, or you can simply ask our reception team when you book.
When to See Your GP
Book an appointment rather than waiting if:
If you’re experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Getting the Most from Your Management Plan
A chronic disease management plan that Balwyn patients set up with their GP works best when it’s treated as a living document, reviewed regularly and adjusted as your health changes. With clear goals, coordinated allied health support, and your GP keeping the whole picture in view, managing a chronic condition becomes far less overwhelming.
If you think a chronic management plan could help you, our Balwyn GP clinic team is here to talk it through.
Book your appointment online or call our reception team on (03) 9830 2300 when you’re ready.
The information in this article is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you’re concerned about your health, book an appointment with your GP at Balwyn Central Medical or call (03) 9830 2300.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a specific diagnosis to get a management plan?
Not necessarily. There’s no fixed list of qualifying conditions.
What matters is whether your condition has been present, or is expected to be present, for six months or longer. Your GP uses their clinical judgement to work out whether a plan is right for your situation.
What happened to the old GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement?
From 1 July 2025, the GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) were replaced by a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP).
If you already had a GPMP or TCA before that date, you can keep using it until 30 June 2027, after which you’ll move to a GPCCMP.
How often is my plan reviewed?
Reviews can happen as often as every three months if your GP thinks it’s clinically appropriate, though most patients won’t need one that often.
To keep accessing Medicare-subsidised allied health visits, your plan needs to have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months.
Can I see allied health providers outside Balwyn Central Medical?
Yes. Your GP can refer you to allied health professionals in the community as part of your plan, though many patients find it more convenient to use our on-site physiotherapy, dietetics and other allied health services to keep everything under one roof.
Does a management plan cost anything?
For most patients, no. GP Management Plans are bulk billed for all patients who have valid Medicare cards at Balwyn Central Medica. You’ll find current details on our fees page, or ask our reception team when you book.
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