🩺Changes to Medicare Plans for Ongoing Health Conditions (Starting 1 July 2025)

❓ What’s changing?

If you have a long-term (chronic) health condition, there are some updates to how your care is planned and managed under Medicare:

✅ A New, Simpler Care Plan

• From 1 July 2025, your doctor will use one single plan called the:

  • GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)

• This replaces the old Care Plans (called GPMPs and TCAs).

• It’s designed to make things easier for you, your GP, and any other health professionals involved in your care.

  
  

✅ Referrals to Other Health Professionals (like Audiologists for Ear Wax Removal)

• Your GP will now use a simple referral letter (instead of a special form).

• The referral letter must include:

  • Your doctor’s name and clinic details

  • The date and your doctor’s signature (electronic is fine)

  • The reason you’re being referred and any important health details

• The referral is valid for 18 months from when you first use it.

• You don’t need to pick a specific provider—you can choose who you’d like to see.

• The letter doesn’t have to list the number of visits, but it can if your doctor wants to.

  
  

👂 Hearing (Audiology) Services – Item 10952

• You can still get up to 5 Medicare-funded visits per calendar year.

• The audiologist will send a report to your GP:

  • After your first and last visits (or more often if needed).

• If the referral is missing details, the hearing provider will call your GP to confirm before billing Medicare.

  
  

🔍 Hearing Tests (Diagnostic Audiology – Items 82300–82332)

• These tests are not changing.

• You will need a new referral letter for each test.

• You can’t use a hearing test and a care plan item at the same time for the same appointment.