DISCLAIMER: The information on this page is provided for general information only and should not be taken as medical, healthcare or financial advice. Eligibility for a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, Medicare rebates and allied health services may vary depending on your individual circumstances and may change over time. Please speak with your GP or Medicare to confirm your eligibility and available rebates.
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) is a Medicare-supported plan your GP creates for a long-term health condition. It sets out your health goals and the services that will help you reach them. With a plan in place, your GP can refer you for up to five Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per calendar year, including speech pathology and occupational therapy.
The plan replaced the older GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangements (TCA) on 1 July 2025. If you’ve had one of those before, the new system will feel familiar but simpler. This guide covers who qualifies, how long a plan lasts, what it can do for you and what changes in 2027.
Who's Eligible for a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan?
You or a loved one may be eligible if you have a chronic or terminal medical condition. A chronic condition is one that has lasted, or is likely to last, six months or longer. Eligibility has stayed the same under the new arrangements.
Examples where speech pathology or OT often play a role include:
- Stroke
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Motor neurone disease
- Cerebral palsy
- Head and neck cancer
- Arthritis or other long-term conditions affecting daily function
Your GP decides whether your condition qualifies and whether a plan is clinically appropriate. Not every diagnosis or support need meets the criteria.
Eligibility doesn’t depend on age. Children and adults can both have a plan.
How Long Is a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan Valid for?
A plan doesn’t expire on a fixed date, but your access to allied health services depends on how recently it was prepared or reviewed. To keep accessing Medicare-supported allied health services, your plan must have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months.
Three timing rules are worth knowing:
- Visit limit. You can claim up to five individual allied health visits per calendar year, counted from 1 January. This total is shared across all allied health types, so five visits might be split between speech pathology and OT.
- Reviews. Your GP can review the plan to keep it current. A new plan can generally be prepared once every 12 months.
- Older plans. If you had a GPMP or TCA before 1 July 2025, you can keep using it until 30 June 2027 (see below).
What Are the Benefits of a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan?
- Lower-cost access to allied health care. With a plan and a referral, you can claim a Medicare rebate on up to five individual allied health visits per calendar year. That includes speech pathology and occupational therapy. The rebate may not cover the full fee, so ask your provider about any gap before you book.
- One plan, shared goals. Your GP sets out your goals, your care needs and the services that will help. Your therapists then work toward those goals rather than in isolation. Providers also have reporting requirements back to your GP, so your doctor stays informed about your progress and can adjust the plan at review.
- Care across more than one discipline. Your five visits can be split across different allied health types. For example, you might see a speech pathologist for communication or swallowing and an occupational therapist for daily-living skills. This suits conditions that affect several areas of life at once. It also means you and your GP can shift the balance of visits as your needs change.
- Freedom to choose your provider. Under the new rules, your GP refers you directly with a referral letter that doesn't need to name a specific practitioner. You can choose any eligible allied health provider, including one who visits you at home or sees you via telehealth where available. If your needs change, you can also change providers during the year.
- Regular reviews that keep care current. A plan isn't a one-off document. Your GP can review it to check what's working and update your goals. Keeping your plan prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months also protects your access to Medicare-supported allied health services.
What a Plan Doesn't Do
How to Get a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan
- Book a GP appointment. Mention your condition and ask whether you're eligible for a plan. If you're registered with MyMedicare, you'll generally access your plan through your registered practice.
- Discuss your goals. Your GP will assess your health needs and agree on goals and services with you. A practice nurse may help prepare or review the plan.
- Receive your referral. Under the new rules, your GP refers you directly with a referral letter. It no longer needs to name a specific provider, so you can choose any eligible allied health practitioner.
- Book your allied health appointment. Bring the referral to your first visit.
Plans can usually be prepared in person or via telehealth, depending on your GP.
What Changes Are Expected in 2027?
The big date is 1 July 2027. From that date, you’ll need a GPCCMP to keep accessing Medicare-supported allied health services. This applies to people who currently use an older GPMP or TCA.
Here’s what that means in practice:
- Until 30 June 2027. Existing GPMPs and TCAs continue to work for allied health services.
- From 1 July 2027. You must have a GPCCMP in place. Without one, you won't be able to claim Medicare-supported allied health visits until your GP prepares it.
- Referrals written before 1 July 2025. These remain valid until the services under them are used.
- Other care plans. Mental Health Treatment Plans, Eating Disorder Plans and DVA services aren't affected.
If you’re on an older plan, book a GP visit well before mid-2027 so your transition happens smoothly. Appointments can fill up as the deadline approaches. Policies can change, so check the latest details on the Services Australia or Department of Health MBS websites.
Next Steps
If you or a family member has a long-term condition affecting speech, swallowing, communication or daily living, a GPCCMP can make therapy more affordable. Talk to your GP first, then reach out to our team. We’ll help you make the most of your visits.
William Huynh is a senior speech pathologist and the director of NDIS-registered provider Brighter Futures Allied Health. He has over a decade of experience working with children and adults with complex communication needs, including disability, dysphagia, and acquired language impairments. William has completed specialist training in approaches such as Key Word Sign, LAMP Words for Life, Grid 3, and Hanen’s More Than Words. He also supervises speech pathologists and student placements, supporting evidence-based and family-centred practice.
