There are two types of plans for patients with a chronic medical condition and your doctor can determine whether a plan is appropriate for you or not.
A chronic medical condition is one that has been (or is likely to be) present for at least six months or longer. It includes conditions such as asthma, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and stroke, but is not limited to these conditions.
The first type of management plan is called a “GP Management Plan” (GPMP). This plan can assist patients with chronic medical conditions by providing an organized approach to their medical care and outlines a plan of action that both you and your doctor have agreed to.
A GPMP:
- Identifies patient’s health and care needs
- Sets out the services to be provided by your doctor
- Lists the actions you can take to help manage your condition
The second type of management plan is called a Team Care Arrangement (TCA). This management plan will help coordinate more effectively the care you need from your doctor and other health care providers.
A TCA :
Requires your doctor to work with at least two other health care providers who give ongoing treatment or services to you. It is important that you let your doctor or nurse know if there are aspect of your care you do not want discussed with other health care providers.
Patients who have both a GPMP & TCA in place can access Medicare rebates for specific allied health services including – Physiotherapy, Chiropractor, Dietician, Podiatrist, Diabetic educator, Asthma educator etc.
Developing a GPMP or TCA is likely to take more time than a normal consultation. If a GPMP and TCA are appropriate for you your doctor will refer you to our Chronic Disease Nurse who will contact you by phone and make an appointment.
If you qualifies for GPMP/ TCA, your doctor will let you know and these management plans will be bulk billed directly to Medicare.