By the KMW Podiatry team. Last reviewed November 2026.Many people in Adelaide can get a Medicare rebate for podiatry through their GP. Since 1 July 2025 this is done through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP), which replaced the older GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement. This guide walks through how it works, step by step.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Medicare rules and rebate amounts change from time to time; check MBS Online or speak with your GP for current details. KMW Podiatry’s podiatrists are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia through Ahpra.
Step 1: Check whether you may be eligible
A GPCCMP is for people living in the community who have at least one medical condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for at least six months, or is terminal. There is no fixed list of eligible conditions. Common examples where podiatry is part of care include:- diabetes
- arthritis
- peripheral vascular disease
- some neurological conditions
- long-standing foot or lower-limb conditions
Step 2: Book a longer appointment with your GP
Tell the practice you would like to discuss a chronic condition management plan, as it usually needs a longer consultation. If you are registered with a practice through MyMedicare, the plan needs to be done through that practice. Many KMW clinics are located within medical practices, so you may be able to see your GP and podiatrist in the same building.During the appointment, your GP (sometimes with the practice nurse) will review your condition, agree goals with you and decide which allied health services you need.Step 3: Get a referral to a podiatrist
If podiatry is included, your GP will write a referral. Under the current rules, Medicare allows rebates for up to five eligible allied health services per calendar year in total (10 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), shared across all allied health providers, for example podiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics. Your GP will discuss how these are best used.The referral needs your details and your GP’s details, but it does not have to state a number of visits. It stays valid for the period written on it or, if no period is written, for 18 months from your first service under it. It can be sent straight to KMW by fax (08 7081 3009), or you can bring it to your first appointment. Our referral information guide has more detail.Step 4: Book with a podiatrist
You can book online at any of KMW’s 22 clinics or ask about a home visit if you find it hard to travel. Let us know when booking that you have a GP care plan referral, so we can check the details.Step 5: Your podiatry appointment
At your first visit your podiatrist will assess your feet, provide treatment where suitable, and explain a plan that fits your goals and the number of visits available. After your first and last visits under the referral, we send a written report back to your GP, as Medicare requires.Step 6: Claiming your Medicare rebate
Medicare sets a rebate amount for each eligible allied health service. Billing arrangements vary between clinics, so you may pay the fee and claim the rebate, in which case you pay the gap. At KMW Podiatry, bulk billing may be available for eligible patients at selected locations only; we are not a fully bulk-billing clinic, so please ask our team about your location before booking. You can check the current rebate amount on MBS Online or by asking our team. Because fees and billing arrangements can change, please confirm the fee for your clinic when you book.If you had a plan before July 2025
People who had a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement in place before 1 July 2025 can keep using them under transition arrangements until mid-2027. Your GP can tell you whether your older plan can still be used or whether it is time to move to a GPCCMP.What to bring to your first appointment
- your GP referral (if it has not been faxed)
- your Medicare card
- a list of medicines and any recent test results
- the shoes you wear most often
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new plan or referral every year?
Not automatically. Your GP reviews your plan, and to keep accessing these services your plan needs to have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months. The five-service limit resets on 1 January and unused services do not carry over, but you do not need a new referral just because a new calendar year starts if your current referral is still valid.Can I use private health insurance at the same time?
Not for the same visit. You can use either your Medicare rebate or your private health extras for a single appointment, not both. Some people use their care plan visits first and then use extras for further visits.Can I use my care plan for a home visit?
A Medicare rebate may apply to eligible podiatry at home with a valid referral, although a home visit may have a different fee. Ask our team about home visits in your area.What if I run out of visits?
You can continue as a private patient, use private health extras, or use other funding you are eligible for, such as DVA, NDIS or Support at Home. A referral gives you access to a Medicare rebate; what your podiatrist recommends depends on your assessment, and responses to treatment vary between people.Ready to use your care plan?
Book online, read more about GP care plans, or call us on 1800 962 113 and we will help you check your referral.This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Medicare rules and rebate amounts change from time to time; check MBS Online or speak with your GP for current details. KMW Podiatry’s podiatrists are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia through Ahpra.
