What is a Medicare Team Care Arrangement?

Getting the most out of Medicare

Allied health services

Medicare has been extended a lot in recent years. It now covers much more than just going to the doctor when you are sick.

• A GP can write a GP Management Plan for a person who has a chronic medical condition.  If the person also has complex needs, the GP can also coordinate a Team Care Arrangement with other health and care providers.
• Allied health services for people with Team Care Arrangements.
• Group diabetes services for people with type 2 diabetes.

GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements

If a person has a chronic medical condition, their doctor can prepare a GP Management Plan for treatment of the condition.  A chronic medical condition is one that is present for six months or longer, such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. 

If the person could benefit from help from at least two other health providers, the GP can also charge for coordinating Team Care Arrangements with the other service providers.

For a person who has both a GP Management Plan and a Team Care Arrangement, Medicare provides a rebate for 5 allied health services per year.
The GP needs to use a special referral form.

The allied health professional has to be registered with Medicare and can be an, diabetes educator, dietitian, exercise physiologist, exercise physiologist, podiatrist, or psychologist .

Also, before allied health services are carried out under Medicare, it is necessary that the GP registers  the team care paperwork to Medicare . To check  if  the GP items (Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements) have been claimed, you can ring Medicare Australia on 132 01.
 

Group services for people with type 2 diabetes

If a person has type 2 diabetes and a GP Management Plan, the doctor can refer the person for group services to help the person manage their diabetes. Each year, this includes:

•             An annual assessment and preparation of a group services program by a diabetes educator, dietitian or exercise physiologist.

•             Up to eight group sessions covering issues like blood glucose monitoring, food labels, recipes and exercise strategies.