FREE Management plans for those with Chronic Disease

All doctors at Como GP offer free comprehensive and individually tailored chronic disease management plans.

A chronic medical condition is one that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or longer.  There is no list of eligible conditions; however, the Medicare items are designed for patients who require a structured approach, including those requiring ongoing care from a multidisciplinary team.

Whether a patient is eligible for a care plan is a clinical judgement for the doctor, taking into account the patient’s medical condition and care needs, as well as the general guidance set out by Medicare.

These plans provide you access to free or subsidized allied health visits from physiotherapists, dieticians, exercise physiologists, psychologists, optometrists, and diabetes educators.

Some examples of chronic diseases that generally qualify are:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Chronic pain of known aetiology
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic gut diseases – eg inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease
  • Diabetes
  • Emphysema
  • Heart and cardiovascular disease
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Mental health disease
  • Musculoskeletal conditions
  • Neurodegenerative diseases – eg dementia and parkinson’s disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Stroke

Chronic disease plans require a special booking because they involve a preliminary assessment by our nurse prior to completion of the assessment and planning with your doctor.

Please make these appointments by phone only and inform reception that you require a care plan.