About the changes
From 1 July 2025, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items will be changing to:
- replace the current GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements with a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan
- support continuity of care by requiring patients registered for MyMedicare to access management plans through the practice where they are registered. Patients who aren’t registered will be able to access management plans through their usual GP
- encourage management plan reviews by:
- equalising the fees for developing and reviewing plans
- requiring patients to have their plan established or reviewed in the last 18 months so they can retain access to allied health and other services
- formalise referral processes for allied health services so they are more consistent with other referral arrangements
- ensure patients do not lose access to their current services through transition arrangements for existing patients with GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements.
Why it is important
The framework supports patients with one or more chronic conditions that would benefit from a structured approach to their care. It also provides access to allied health and other services for patients that would benefit from multidisciplinary team care to manage their chronic condition.
These changes were recommended by the MBS Review Taskforce. It is the first major change to the framework in almost 20 years. In that time, we have seen changes to:
- the burden of chronic disease
- patient expectations
- technology to support communications between multidisciplinary care team members and their patients.
Goals
The changes aim to:
- simplify, streamline, and modernise the arrangements for health care professionals and patients
- promote continuity of care
- encourage the regular review of chronic condition management plans
- support communications between a patient’s multidisciplinary care team
- ensure existing patients can continue to access the care they need.
Learn more
These changes were announced in the 2023–24 Budget. Learn more about these changes in the Building a stronger Medicare fact sheet.
Building a stronger Medicare – Budget 2023–24
This Budget 2023–24 fact sheet outlines significant reforms to Medicare, delivering critical funding to meet the urgent healthcare needs of today. It responds to the recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and takes key steps to address challenges in our healthcare system.
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