– Information for Allied Health Providers
MBS Online has recently published the Upcoming Changes to Chronic Disease Management Framework confirming the new framework for chronic condition management from 1 July 2025.
These changes primarily affect medical practitioners, however, allied health professionals providing MBS services should be aware of the changes to plan and referral requirements.
Key Overview of Changes:
Summary of Changes:
What’s changing?
Under the new regime, the referring GP or prescribed medical practitioner will refer the patient directly to allied health services under the GPCCMP.
Patients under a GPCCMP can access individual allied health services. For group allied health services, access will generally be limited to patients with type 2 diabetes.
What stays the same?
The types of allied health services that can be delivered under CDM will not change.
What’s changing?
The previous requirement for the GP to consult or collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members when preparing or reviewing the plan is removed. Allied health providers do not need to confirm their agreement to be part of a team.
What stays the same?
The obligation to send reports back to the referring GP remains. Allied health professionals must provide a written report to the referring medical practitioner after the first and last service. They can provide the reports more often if clinically necessary.
What’s changing?
From 1 July 2025, referrals to allied health services under the new framework must be via referral letters (similar to medical specialist referrals), rather than on the old referral form. See Referral Arrangement Factsheet for the minimum requirements for a valid referral.
What stays the same?
Referrals written before 1 July 2025 remain valid until all services under them have been delivered or until 30 June 2027.
What’s changing?
Unless otherwise stated by the referring medical practitioner, referrals under the new system will be valid for 18 months.
What stays the same?
Allied health providers will need to check the date of the referral and whether it remains within the valid period.
What’s changing?
To access allied health services under the new GPCCMP, patients must have had their plan prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months.
What stays the same?
Patients who had a GPMP/TCA prior to 1 July 2025 may continue to use those existing plans until 30 June 2027, however after that point a GPCCMP will be required for ongoing access to allied health services.
What’s changing?
New MBS item numbers will be introduced for “Prepare GPCCMP” and “Review GPCCMP” (face-to-face and telehealth) for GPs and prescribed medical practitioners.
What stays the same?
There will be a limit that a plan may be prepared no more often than every 12 months (unless needed) and reviews allowed every 3 months (unless specified).
Patients remain to have access to five subsidised visits.
Further information
For more information, MBS Online has released a selection of Factsheets here: MBS Online – Upcoming changes to the MBS Chronic Disease Management Framework
Allied Health Professionals Australia held a webinar: Changes to the Chronic Disease Management Framework – Implications for Allied Health Professionals. You can watch the recording here.
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For additional queries, contact alliedhealth@gphn.org.au
