Health journalChronic care
Living with a chronic condition: how a GP care plan helps
A GP chronic condition management plan brings your care together, with clear goals, regular reviews and access to Medicare-rebated allied health.
If you live with a long-term health condition such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, arthritis, heart disease or chronic pain, a structured plan with your GP can make day-to-day management easier. At Rutherford Doctors, our GPs help patients across Rutherford, Aberglasslyn, Telarah and the wider Maitland area manage chronic conditions with GP chronic condition management plans and regular reviews.
What is a chronic condition?
A chronic condition is a health condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, six months or more. Common examples include type 2 diabetes, asthma, COPD, arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease and some mental health conditions.
What is a GP chronic condition management plan?
From July 2025, GP chronic condition management plans replaced GP management plans and team care arrangements under Medicare. Your GP works with you to understand your condition, set goals that matter to you, and plan the care and support you need.
What a care plan can include
- Clear health goals you agree on with your GP
- The actions, treatments and lifestyle changes that will help
- Regular reviews to track how you are going
- Referrals to allied health professionals
- Coordination with specialists and other members of your care team
Allied health services and Medicare
If you have a GP chronic condition management plan, you may be eligible for up to five Medicare-rebated allied health services each calendar year. Allied health professionals include physiotherapists, dietitians, podiatrists, exercise physiologists and diabetes educators. Your GP will explain which services suit your needs. Allied health providers set their own fees, so there may be a gap.
Diabetes care in Rutherford
For people living with diabetes, a care plan can bring together regular blood tests, foot checks, eye checks, medicines, and diet and exercise support, so nothing is missed.
Asthma and COPD care
A written asthma action plan and regular reviews of your inhaler technique and lung function can help you stay well. Spirometry, a breathing test, may be part of your care.
Why seeing your regular GP matters
Seeing the same GP for your plan and reviews helps keep your care connected and consistent. Registering for MyMedicare with Rutherford Doctors can support this continuity.
Book a care plan appointment
Care plan consultations are bulk billed for Medicare-eligible patients. They need a longer appointment, so choose a longer consultation when you book online through HotDoc, or call (02) 4061 7981.
Frequently asked questions
How often is a care plan reviewed?
Your GP will set a review schedule that suits your condition, and you can book a review sooner if your needs change.
Do I need a care plan to see a physiotherapist?
No, but a care plan may make you eligible for Medicare-rebated allied health services.
Is a care plan bulk billed?
Care plan consultations are bulk billed at Rutherford Doctors for Medicare-eligible patients.
Sources: Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; Services Australia.
This article is general health information written by the Rutherford Doctors team. It has not been written or reviewed by our GPs and is not a substitute for advice about your own health. Please book an appointment to discuss your situation. In an emergency, call 000.
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