Chronic Disease Management Plan
Children and adults who may have ‘chronic and complex medical needs’ may be eligible to receive a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) through Medicare, which entitles them to benefits covering a total of five Allied Health services.
Who is eligible:
A family member may be eligible for a Medicare subsidised CDMP if they have:
- a chronic medical condition (that has existed, or is likely to present for more than six months)
- complex needs (meaning they need treatment from two or more health professionals).
A formal diagnosis is not required to access a plan, and eligibility is determined solely by a General Practitioner (GP). Medicare eligibility must be verified to access a plan (claimant must hold a Medicare card). Please note that some families with a refugee or asylum seeker experience may be eligible for Medicare so it is worth exploring this.
What is available?
Once approved, the plan can allow access up to a total of five subsidised Allied Heath appointments per calendar year. Some of the approved Allied Health services under the plan include:
· Audiology
· Occupational Therapy
· Physiotherapy
· Podiatry
· Psychology
· Dietetics
· Exercise Physiology
· Speech Therapy
How to access
Families are recommended to consult with their GP to discuss eligibility for a CDMP.
More information on CDMPs can be found here
*Please note, children younger than 6 years who may have a developmental delay or concern, or children younger than 9 years who may have a disability should be referred to the Early Childhood Approach(ECA) for support in the first instance. Children accessing supports through the ECA or those on a NDIS plan may be eligible to access a CDMP in addition – consult with the families GP for more information. This may be able to fill a service gap where long wait times and or financial constraints are a barrier to accessing services.
