From 1 July 2025, Medicare has introduced important changes to how chronic condition referrals are managed between GPs and allied health practitioners. If you currently see a Neuro Physiotherapist at Advanced Neuro Rehab under a Medicare referral, these updates may affect your care.
Goodbye to EPC’s & Hello to GPCCMP’s
Previously, many clients with chronic conditions had access to Medicare-subsidised care using EPC’s (Enhanced Primary Care plans). These plans allowed GP’s to refer patients for up to 5 visits per year to eligible allied health professionals.
From 1 July 2025, these plans will be replaced by a new, simpler system called the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP).
The aim of this update is to:
- Simplify care planning for GPs and patients
- Encourage more frequent check-ins with your GP
- Improve how your healthcare team shares information and coordinates your care
What is Changing?
From July 1st 2025, you can expect:
- Previous EPC’s or other alternative versions (GPMP’s / TCA’s) will be replaced by a single plan now known as the GPCCMP.
- You will remain eligible for up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year.
- Your GP will no longer need to involve two or more collaborating providers to refer you. This requirement (previously part of TCAs) has been removed.
- GP’s can now refer directly using a standard referral letter, similar to how they refer to medical specialists. However, separate referrals are still required for each type of allied health provider you will be seeing (for example, if you want to see a Neuro Physio and a Speech Pathologist using a GPCCMP, you will need one referral letter for each of those services).
- Each referral is valid for 18 months from the date of issue.
- If you’re registered with MyMedicare, you must receive your GPCCMP care through your registered GP clinic. If you are not registered with MyMedicare, you can continue to access care through your usual GP clinic.
What Stays the Same?
Even with these changes, several things will remain just as they were:
- You still need a valid GP referral to claim the Medicare rebate.
- The rebate amount stays the same (check the Medicare website for more information). The current rebate amount is $61.80, however please be aware there is a gap fee.
- You’ll continue to receive up to 5 partially funded allied health sessions per calendar year.
- If you already have a current EPC plan, you can keep using it until all sessions are used or the plan expires (usually valid for 2 years).
What You Need to Do:
While there’s no need to take urgent action, we recommend the following:
- Check your current referral: If you’re using an EPC, it’s still valid until all sessions are used or until the plan is due for review.
- Register with MyMedicare: If you haven’t already, registering helps ensure your future care plans and referrals are managed smoothly through your chosen GP clinic.
- Chat with your GP: At your next appointment, ask about when your plan was last updated and whether it’s time for a new referral under the GPCCMP.
- Contact our team: Not sure how many sessions you have left or if your referral is current? Just give us a call on (08) 8363 0458, our reception team will be happy to check.
At Advanced Neuro Rehab, We’re Here to Help!
We understand that navigating changes like these can be overwhelming, especially when you’re managing a complex or chronic condition. Our team of Neuro and Vestibular Physiotherapists is here to make sure your treatment stays on track with minimal disruption.
We’ll continue to:
- Coordinate closely with your GP
- Ensure your referrals and care plans are up to date
- Support you through any transitions with Medicare
We’re always happy to talk you through your options and help you plan your next steps.
