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:
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Physiotherapist
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Podiatrist
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Exercise physiologist
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Dietetician
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Occupational therapist
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Psychologist
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Chiropractor
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Aboriginal health worker
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Audiologist
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Diabetes educator
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Mental health worker
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Osteopath
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Speech pathologist
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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
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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).
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2.Call us and make an appointment
After being referred to a Physiotherapist, Chiropractor & Podiatry, appointments can be made for 30- 40 minutes consult.
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The Numbers of Treatments
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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.