GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GP CCMP)
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GP CCMP) is a Medicare supported plan that helps children and adults with long term health conditions access coordinated care. Under a GP CCMP, families can access up to 5 Medicare subsidised allied health services per calendar year, when the services are clinically relevant to the person’s condition.
Who is eligible:
A child (or person of any age) may be eligible if:
- They have a chronic medical condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, 6 months or more, or is terminal.
- Are assessed as eligible based on the General Practitioner’s clinical judgement. The General Practitioner (or another practitioner at their practice) has provided the majority of the child’s medical care over the past 12 months and is expecting to continue to provide care for the next 12 months.
- The family must also hold a valid Medicare card.
A formal diagnosis is not required.
*Important note for younger children
Children younger than 6 with possible developmental delay or concerns, and children younger than 9 who may have a disability should be referred to the Early Childhood Approach (ECA) in the first instance.
Children supported through the ECA or with an existing NDIS plan may still be eligible for a GP CCMP. Families can discuss this with their GP.
A GP CCMP may help fill service gaps, particularly where long wait times or financial barriers make it difficult to access therapy services.
What is available through a GP CCMP?
Once a General Practitioner has determined eligibility, they will develop a plan to support the treatment of the child’s health condition(s). The plan can include access up to 5 Medicare subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year where those services are clinically relevant to the child’s condition. These services must be provided by eligible allied health or primary health care professionals and delivered on an individual basis. Telehealth appointments can be used where this is relevant.
Services that may be included in a GP CCMP are:
- Speech Pathology
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology
- Dietetics
- Exercise Physiology
- Audiology
- Podiatry
Access to these services is coordinated by the General Practitioner, who determines which services will best support the child’s needs and monitors progress through reviews of the plan. Service providers will provide a written report/assessment to the GP after the first and last appointment under the plan.
Medicare rebates apply to the allied health services, but providers may charge a gap fee.
How to access
Families are encouraged to book an appointment with their GP to discuss whether they are eligible for a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.
More information about GP CCMPs can be found here.
