Medicare care plans
With a care plan from your GP, Medicare helps pay for some of your physiotherapy and exercise physiology visits.
How Medicare care plans work
If you have a chronic (long-term) condition that has lasted, or is likely to last, six months or more, your GP may prepare a GP chronic condition management plan. With the plan and a referral from your GP, Medicare pays a rebate for up to five allied health visits each calendar year.
The five visits are shared across all allied health services, for example physiotherapy and exercise physiology combined. Each visit must be at least 20 minutes.
These plans replaced GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements on 1 July 2025. If you have an older plan, it can still be used until 30 June 2027.
Four steps to use your plan
See your GP
Ask whether a chronic condition management plan suits you.
Get a referral
Your GP refers you to Physionorth for physiotherapy or exercise physiology.
Book with us
Book online or call, and tell us you have a care plan.
Bring your referral
Bring the referral to your first visit, or ask your GP to send it to us.
What it costs
Medicare pays a set rebate for each visit. Our fee is higher than the rebate, so there is an out-of-pocket gap. Reception can tell you the current rebate and your gap before you book.
Remedial massage is not covered by Medicare care plans. Exercise classes are not covered either, but you can use private health insurance where your fund allows.
Common questions
Can I use my care plan for physio and exercise physiology?
Yes. The five visits a year are shared across allied health services, so you can split them, for example three physiotherapy and two exercise physiology visits.
What happens after five visits?
You can keep coming as a private patient, and claim on private health insurance if you have extras cover.
Does the year start from my plan date?
No. The five visits are counted per calendar year, from 1 January to 31 December.
Do you accept DVA, WorkCover or NDIS?
Please call reception on 07 4724 0768 to talk about other funding.