A Medicare referral from your General Practitioner can sometimes be given to those with a chronic medical condition. The Medicare Benefits Scheme enables GPs to plan and coordinate the health care of patients with chronic or terminal medical conditions. This sometimes allows for a multidisciplinary approach to health care and can incorporate several health care workers working together.
Eligibility is assessed by your General Practitioner. Through this scheme, you are entitled to receive a rebate of approximately $52 from Medicare for up to 5 visits per calendar year to Allied Health Professionals. Referrals are valid for 2 years and can flow over to the next year if visits are not used within that first calendar year.
A chronic medical condition has to be present for six months or longer. Examples of this can include:
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Stroke
If you think you are eligible for this scheme, please have a talk with your GP or Medicare.
