Medicare Chronic Condition Management Plan (CCMP)

Medicare’s New CCMP Reforms: What They Mean for Allied Health and Why Bulk Billing May Not Survive

By Elan Silver, Silver Podiatry – Updated October 2025

(I don't really expect anyone to read this, but here it is)

From 1 July 2025, Medicare introduced sweeping reforms to its chronic condition management system — and they’ve left many of us in allied health scratching our heads (and checking our calculators).

If you’ve ever had a patient referred under a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan — now rebranded as the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP) — you’ll want to know what’s changed, why it matters, and why these “simplifications” may actually make bulk billing nearly impossible in the future.

I will endeavour to update this if any new information comes in, or if I need to make corrections – it’s complicated, and I reserve the right to change my mind…

The Short Version: What’s Changed Under the New GPCCMP System

The GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) are gone. In their place stands the single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP).

While it sounds cleaner on paper, the details matter:

What’s Changed	What It Means
Simplified plan structure	One plan replaces GPMP and TCA. GPs now claim only one item for preparation or review.
No collaboration requirement	GPs no longer need to consult two allied health providers when creating plans. This was always a recommendation, and I think this change will actually make CCMP use easier.
Referral format	Gone are the MBS forms — referrals are now just letters, similar to specialist referrals. We can’t tell if it a general or Medicare referral in some instances.
Referral validity	Referrals last 18 months from the date of the first service (unless otherwise specified).
Service limits	Still capped at five allied health visits per calendar year (ten for Indigenous patients). Only 5, ya hear?
Transition period	Existing GPMP/TCA referrals can still be used until 30 June 2027.
MyMedicare tie-in	Patients registered with MyMedicare must use the GPCCMP through their registered practice.

The Department of Health describes these changes as “streamlined” and “flexible.” In reality, they streamline less for patients and providers, certainly not for us providers.

The Consequences for Allied Health

Let’s be frank: these changes hit every allied health professional who relies on Medicare’s CDM/CCMP scheme — podiatrists, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, and more.

Here’s why:

1. Bulk billing is no longer viable

   The rebate remains the same, but the administrative workload has grown. The “simplified” system adds tracking requirements, new referral formats, and 18-month expiry rules — without any funding increase.

2. Allied health input is reduced

   Removing the collaboration clause effectively sidelines allied health in chronic disease planning. It’s a step backward for multidisciplinary care.

3. Patients face more gaps in care

   With fewer providers able to bulk bill, patients who rely on chronic condition plans for ongoing support will be left with higher out-of-pocket costs — or none at all.

4. Administrative complexity increases

   Each referral now carries new validity, reporting, and monitoring rules that practices must absorb into already stretched workflows. Providers (ie, me) still have to write a first and last report back to the referring GP; we will know the first instance for reporting, but not the last. We will fail Medicare audits (but… but… they’re the ones who implemented this!).

In short, the change was meant to make life simpler. It’s done quite the opposite.

Our Advocacy Efforts: Standing Up for Allied Health and Our Patients

At Silver Podiatry, we didn’t just grumble about it — we acted. As an individual practice, we managed to approach the highest levels in the Federal Government.

Our Letter to the Minister for Health and Hon. Patrick Gorman

On 29 July 2025, we wrote to Hon. Patrick Gorman MP (Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) and the Hon. Mark Butler MP (Minister for Health and Aged Care), outlining:

• The loss of viability for bulk billing under the new GPCCMP model

• The likely reduction in patient access to essential allied health care

• The lack of transparent consultation with many allied health professions

• The need for increased rebates, extended transition arrangements, and administrative support

We requested a formal response — and we got one.

The Minister’s Written Response

The Department of Health replied under Ref No: MC25-015000, dated 15 September 2025, signed by Imogen Colton, Director of the General Practice Section, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Aged Care.

The letter acknowledged our concerns and offered the following key points:

• The new system was designed to “promote flexibility for patients and improve the transmission of clinical information.”

• Allied health referral processes have been “aligned with referrals to medical specialists.”

• Patients are ultimately responsible for managing their MBS benefits and can track their usage via their Medicare Online Account.

• Referring doctors may still specify the number of allied health services if they choose.

• These reforms arose from the MBS Review Taskforce, with consultation via an Implementation Liaison Group including the AMA, RACGP, AHPA, APNA, and NAATSIHWP. Don’t ask; not sure.

In essence: the changes were deliberate, consulted (in a limited sense), and unlikely to be reversed in the short term.

While we appreciate the courtesy of a formal reply, the response did not address our central concern — that these structural and funding changes will render bulk billing unsustainable for most allied health practices. Nonetheless – hey, we got a response! I am unaware of any other person, business, group or association that attempted this.

MC25-015000.pdf

Download PDF • 186KB

The Petition: Taking It to Parliament

To give our concerns a formal platform, we launched a petition through the House of Representatives, calling for:

• Reassessment of the rebate structure for allied health under CCMP

• Safeguards to maintain patient access for vulnerable groups

• A fairer consultation process that includes practising allied health professionals

The petition has been officially accepted and tabled, gaining support from patients, clinicians, and concerned community members alike.

But the timing of the events was not great. I submitted the petition on a Sunday, and received the Ministerial response on Monday. Largely, I abandoned the petition as we received our response. (I also sent a request for the allied health associations to make their members aware of the petition on the Sunday. Come Monday, I regretted ever emailing them; see below)

Attempts to Engage Allied Health Associations

We also reached out to several major allied health associations — national and state-level — in hopes of building a unified response.

Unfortunately, our requests were largely met with silence. I only had one response from an allied health association who impolitely advised me that I was not a member of their association, and that they would not sanction a motion by a non-self-professional. Amazing.

I was also asked by a colleague why I was campaigning to get paid less.

That AHPA (the association of the associations)  advocated for these changes remains one of the biggest barriers to reversing these outcomes. It’s not going to happen.

What This Means for Patients

If you currently see an allied health professional under a Care Plan, here’s what you need to know:

• Existing referrals (issued before 1 July 2025) remain valid until 30 June 2027.

• New referrals must follow the GPCCMP structure — your GP will issue a referral letter rather than a form.

• You’ll still receive up to five subsidised visits per year, but many providers may need to charge a gap fee or move to private billing entirely.

• Keep track of your allocated visits through your Medicare Online Account — and check in with your GP if you’re unsure of your remaining eligibility.

At Silver Podiatry, we’ll continue to assist our patients in navigating these changes, ensuring you still receive the care you need — even if Medicare’s support is waning.

What’s Next

We’ll continue to:

• Advocate for fairer allied health representation in future Medicare reforms

• Push for increased rebates to sustain bulk billing

• Work collaboratively with medical professionals to protect patient access to high-quality care

We encourage other allied health practitioners to join the conversation, contact their MPs, and keep the pressure on.

This isn’t just about money — it’s about maintaining access, dignity, and care continuity for millions of Australians managing chronic conditions.

In Summary

The new GPCCMP framework may have been designed to simplify Medicare — but in practice, it risks complicating access, reducing collaboration, and dismantling bulk billing for allied health.

At Silver Podiatry, we’ll keep doing what we do best: advocating for our patients and standing up for the health professionals who care for them.

Because good health care shouldn’t depend on who can afford the rebate gap.

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These are the changes that Silver Podiatry have implemented in order to safeguard the business:

Important Changes to Medicare Billing at Silver Podiatry

(Effective from 1 October 2025)

For almost 20 years, Silver Podiatry has bulk billed patients under Medicare. Recent changes to the GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (CCMP) system mean we can no longer continue bulk billing in the same way.

We raised these concerns directly with the Health Minister’s office and wrote to multiple allied health associations. Unfortunately, the response we received made it clear: the rules will not be changed.

New Billing Arrangements

• Ongoing consultations with a valid CCMP referral (20 minutes):

  • Fee: $70

  • Medicare rebate: $61.80

  • Concession card holders (up to 5 visits per calendar year): gap is less than $10

  • All other patients: gap is up to $18.20

• After the 5 Medicare-funded visits are used:

  • Concession fee: $75

  • Standard fee: $80

• If Medicare does not cover your visit:

  • We’ll provide you with a receipt so you can claim directly from your private health fund.

  • If you know you’re no longer eligible for Medicare, we can process future visits instantly through HICAPS for your private health fund claim.

Why we must do this

• It is no longer possible for us to track the 5 Medicare-funded vsists per calendar year.

• This has increased administrative costs and, in some cases, left us thousands of dollars out of pocket for services already provided.

• Medicare rebates ($61.80) do not reflect the true cost of care, which includes reporting, EFTPOS costs, and administration.

• Many allied health providers do not bulk bill at all, and some do not accept Medicare referrals.

What you can do

• Please don’t be upset with us. You can read the Minister’s reply if you like. This has impacted all allied-health providers.

• Track your own usage of Medicare visits via your Medicare Online Account.

• Check our website for updates: [Insert Placeholder Link]

We know this is a change, and we want you to know: we tried our best to keep bulk billing for you, but the system has left us no choice.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

— The Silver Podiatry Team