Medicare have introduced a system whereby it provides Medicare benefits to be paid for certain allied health services including Podiatry. It covers people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, and people with complex care needs.
Medicare defines a chronic condition as one that has been or is likely to be present for at least 6 months. This includes conditions, but not limited to, cardiovascular illness, diabetes mellitus, mental health conditions, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
Complex Care Needs means that, in your doctor’s opinion, you would benefit from care provided by a range of health care professionals who provide different services from your doctor.
In the past GP’s have decided that patients have complex care needs if:
If any of these examples relates to your circumstances, then you may be eligible for the Medicare rebate for Podiatry under the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan.
Under this system, people with a chronic condition or complex care needs who are being managed by their GP will be entitled to receive a Medicare benefit for up to 5 eligible allied health services per year. This means that your GP can designate 1-5 visits to an eligible podiatrist for ongoing podiatry treatment for a 12 month period. This is called an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan.
To receive Medicare benefits for podiatry, a patient must be referred to a podiatrist by their GP using an EPC program referral form for Allied Health Services under Medicare. An appropriate care plan must also be completed by the GP and sent to the podiatrist along with the EPC referral form.
Under this scheme your GP will receive feedback from the treating podiatrist after your first visit, then as required or requested.
At the Melton and Bacchus Marsh Foot Clinics we patient claim on behalf of the patient with Medicare.
The patient is required to pay their consultation fee at the time of their consultation.
We then claim the treatment cost from Medicare and the rebate is paid into the patient's nominated bank account - usually within 24 hours.
Please ask you podiatrist or your GP regarding any further questions that you may have about the Medicare EPC Scheme.
