If you have a chronic medical condition and complex care needs requiring multidisciplinary care, your GP may also develop a Team Care Arrangements (TCA). This allows us to coordinate the care you need from your GP and other health or care providers more effectively. A TCA requires your GP to collaborate with at least two other health or care providers who will give ongoing treatment or services to help you manage your health condition.
Having a chronic disease management plan in place facilitates access to allied health practitioners under the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Referrals to allied health practitioners can be arranged to support the management of a person’s chronic disease. In most cases, 5 visits per year are permitted to allied health care providers such as physio, chiro, dietitian, podiatry, exercise physio or occupational therapy. The cost of these appointments is subsidised by the government in order to prevent complications of illness.