GP care plan physiotherapy

Start with your GP.

A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan helps coordinate care for an eligible person with a long-term or terminal medical condition. Your GP decides whether a plan and physiotherapy referral are appropriate.

At our Elizabeth Park clinic, you can discuss movement difficulties and everyday goals. Tell us about your GP care plan when arranging an appointment so we can review the referral requirements with you.

Have your plan and referral ready.

For the current Medicare pathway, your GP care plan must have been prepared or reviewed within the previous 18 months. You also need a valid referral for the recommended physiotherapy.

For referrals written from 1 July 2025, the period stated by the GP applies. If no period is given, the default is 18 months from the first service under that referral. A valid referral does not replace a current plan.

Check your remaining allied health visits.

The usual limit is up to five individual allied health services per calendar year, shared across the eligible professions you use. Podiatry or other allied health visits can affect the number remaining for physiotherapy.

Eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients may access up to ten services under the relevant arrangements. Ask your GP or Medicare to confirm what applies to you.

Connect care with your everyday goals.

Your assessment considers the referral, your health history and the activities affected. Care may include movement advice, an individual exercise plan and progress reviews. Explore back and neck physiotherapy or strength, balance and mobility support for examples of concerns you can discuss.

Your physiotherapist sends a report to the referring GP after the first and last service under the referral, with further updates when clinically needed. Tell us which GP coordinates your care and bring relevant reports from other treating professionals.

Before your appointment.

• Have your Medicare card and physiotherapy referral available.
• Bring relevant plan information, reports and an existing exercise program.
• Tell us about allied health visits already used this calendar year.
• Check the appointment charge, claiming arrangements and any out-of-pocket amount with our team.

A care plan does not automatically make the appointment free. Contact us before attending if your referral or remaining visits are unclear.

GP care plan questions.