Care Plan Physiotherapy in Sydney
Use Your Medicare Allied Health Visits
- Our physio services
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ESSA
accredited provider
Google rating 5.0 stars
(verified 2026-08-11)
Medicare care plans,
NDIS, WorkCover and DVA accepted
Registered NDIS Provider
4-3LLM-2259
Care Plan Physiotherapy in One Paragraph
If you have a chronic condition that has lasted six months or more, your GP can prepare a Chronic Condition Management Plan and refer you for allied health care. That referral gives you up to 5 Medicare-subsidised visits per calendar year. You can use them on physiotherapy, exercise physiology, or a mix of eligible providers. iRehab bulk-processes the Medicare rebate at the time of your visit.
Source: Services Australia, requirements for a chronic condition management plan
From Your GP to Your First Session
- See your GP. Ask whether your condition qualifies for a Chronic Condition Management Plan. The GP appointment itself is billed by your GP’s practice.
- Receive the plan and referral. The referral states how many of your allied health visits your GP recommends for physiotherapy or exercise physiology.
- Book at iRehab. Bring the paperwork, your Medicare card and any relevant reports. Clinics in North Rocks and Five Dock, or mobile visits.
- Treatment and reporting. We claim the Medicare rebate when you visit, and we report back to your GP after the first and last service, as the scheme requires.
What Should You Bring to Your First Care Plan Appointment?
- The care plan itself and the allied health referral. These are two separate documents and we need both. The referral is the one that names the service.
- Your Medicare card.
- Any imaging or specialist reports relating to the condition on the plan.
- A list of current medications.
- Clothing you can move in.
How Many Visits Do You Get, and How Can You Use Them?
The number of physiotherapy visits available through a Care Plan depends on your eligibility and the annual visit limit. You can use your eligible visits for physiotherapy or split them across different eligible allied health providers.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visits per calendar year | Up to 5 for most people; up to 10 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
| One profession or several | You may use all visits on physiotherapy, or split them across eligible providers |
| Session format | Individual services of at least 20 minutes; in person or by eligible telehealth |
| Calendar reset | Entitlements reset each calendar year |
Chronic Disease Management Exercise Physiology and Physio, One Referral Conversation
The care plan scheme is one of the few places where Australians can access an Exercise Physiologist through Medicare. Chronic disease management exercise physiology suits the conditions this scheme exists for: diabetes, COPD, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis and post-stroke recovery, where structured exercise is the treatment itself.
| Your situation | Use your visits for |
|---|---|
| Pain, stiffness, mobility limits | Physiotherapy |
| Strength, conditioning, disease control | Exercise Physiology |
| Both | Split the visits across the two professions |
EPC, CDM, GPMP, GPCCMP: Why Your Paperwork Has Different Names
This scheme has been renamed several times, which causes real confusion at reception desks.
- EPC physiotherapy (Enhanced Primary Care): the original name, still used colloquially.
- CDM / GPMP + TCA: Chronic Disease Management arrangements delivered through a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements.
- GPCCMP: from 1 July 2025, a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan replaced the GPMP and TCA. Existing plans remain valid until 30 June 2027.
Whatever name your paperwork carries, the substance is the same: up to 5 subsidised allied health visits per calendar year. Source: Australian Physiotherapy Association
What Does Medicare Pay, and Is There a Gap?
Care Plan, Private, or Private Health Extras: Which Is Better Value?
It depends on how many sessions you need and what your extras cover pays per visit. A care plan is capped at five subsidised visits per calendar year, so for a longer program most people use the plan first and then switch to extras or private.
| Feature | Medicare care plan | Private health extras | Private, self-funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you need | A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and an allied health referral | An extras policy with physiotherapy cover | Nothing |
| How many sessions | Up to 5 per calendar year (up to 10 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) | Limited by your annual extras limit | Unlimited |
| Who it suits | A chronic condition lasting 6 months or more | Ongoing treatment beyond the 5 visits | Anyone, including one-off appointments |
| Referral needed | Yes, from your GP | No | No |
| Can you use both | Not on the same visit. You cannot claim Medicare and a health fund rebate for one session | Not on the same visit | Not applicable |
| Applies to exercise physiology | Yes | Depends on the policy, check with your fund | Yes |
The People Who Will Treat You
Sophia Wehbe
Managing Director & Accredited Exercise Physiologist | BAppSc (Sport & Exercise Science) | Accredited ESSAM
Sophia Wehbe
Managing Director & Accredited Exercise Physiologist | BAppSc (Sport & Exercise Science) | Accredited ESSAM
Jay Daniels
Exercise Physiologist
Jay Daniels
Exercise Physiologist
Micqut Ngaata
Exercise and Sport Scientist
Micqut Ngaata
Exercise and Sport Scientist
Lucas Carling
Assistant Therapist
Lucas Carling
Assistant Therapist
What Clients Say About the Claiming Process
If a Care Plan Is Not the Right Pathway for You
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan is one of several ways to fund physiotherapy and exercise physiology in Australia. If your GP says you do not qualify, one of these may.
- Injured at work in NSW. Workers compensation covers treatment, and the five-visit care plan cap does not apply.
- Injured in a motor accident in NSW. The CTP scheme covers treatment and care.
- A veteran with a Gold or White Card. The DVA allied health treatment cycle covers up to 12 sessions per referral, which is more than a care plan provides.
- An NDIS participant. Therapy is usually funded under Capacity Building supports, and this is separate from Medicare.
- Aged 65 or over and receiving aged care support. Support at Home funds clinical care including physiotherapy.
- None of the above. Private appointments are available at both clinics and for mobile visits, with private health extras claimable where your policy covers physiotherapy.
Care Plan Physiotherapy Questions
Yes, under the same scheme. Exercise physiology is an eligible allied health profession under GP Chronic Condition Management Plans, delivered by ESSA accredited Exercise Physiologists. You can use some or all of your 5 yearly visits on exercise physiology.
“Free” means Medicare-subsidised: with a GP care plan you access up to 5 visits per calendar year at the Medicare rebate. Any gap between the rebate and the clinic fee is paid by you unless the clinic bulk bills the visit. Ask your GP for a Chronic Condition Management Plan.
No. A Mental Health Care Plan funds psychology sessions. A Chronic Condition Management Plan funds allied health visits such as physiotherapy and exercise physiology. Some clients hold both.
Yes. The visits belong to you, not the clinic. You can split them between providers and between professions.
No. The entitlement resets each calendar year.
Yes. GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements issued before 1 July 2025 remain valid until 30 June 2027.
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Bring Your Care Plan to iRehab
Already have the paperwork? Book your first session. Not sure you qualify? Talk to your GP about a Chronic Condition Management Plan, then call us on 02 9613 3751.
iRehab North Rocks: 328-336 N Rocks Rd, North Rocks NSW 2151
iRehab Five Dock: 451 Lyons Rd W, Five Dock NSW 2046
Phone: 02 9613 3751 · Email: admin@irehab.com.au
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- Last updated: September 10, 2026