Care your GP can refer you for
Around a quarter of our appointments are funded through Medicare. If your GP has written you a referral, here is how it works.
Medicare, NDIS, DVA, WorkCover and private health funds accepted.
Does Medicare cover allied health at OnePointHealth?
Yes, with a referral from your GP. Medicare covers podiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology under a chronic condition management plan, and psychology under a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Medicare pays a rebate and you pay the gap. We claim the rebate for you on the day.
What are the two Medicare pathways?
Most people think of Medicare allied health as one thing. It is two, with different plans, different eligibility and separate session allowances.
Chronic condition management.
For a condition that has lasted, or is likely to last, six months or longer. Your GP prepares a plan and refers you for allied health. This covers podiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology, and the session allowance is shared across all of them.
Better Access, for mental health.
For a diagnosed mental health condition. Your GP prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan and refers you to a psychologist. This has its own allowance, separate from the one above.
The practical consequence is worth knowing: using podiatry sessions this year does not reduce what you have available for psychology, but it does reduce what you have for physiotherapy.
Both plans are prepared by your GP, not by us. We cannot create one, and neither pathway can be started without seeing your GP first.
Am I eligible?
You do not need to work this out yourself. Your GP decides whether a plan is right for you, and we can check how many sessions you have left before you book. Call us on 1300 123 674.
If you are after podiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics or exercise physiology, you can usually access a Medicare rebate if:
You have a chronic condition that has lasted, or is likely to last, six months or longer.
Your GP has prepared a chronic condition management plan for you.
Your GP has referred you for allied health as part of that plan.
You have referrals left for this calendar year.
For psychology, the requirements are different: your GP diagnoses a mental health condition, prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan, and refers you to a psychologist. See Medicare psychology.
How Medicare allied health works
There are four stages between talking to your GP and your first appointment.
Talk to your GP.
If you have a condition that has lasted six months or more, ask whether a chronic condition management plan is right for you.Your GP prepares the plan and the referral.
The referral names the service and how many sessions you have.You book with us.
Bring the referral and your Medicare card to your first appointment.We claim the rebate on the day.
You pay only the gap, and we report back to your GP.For psychology, step 3 differs: appointments are arranged through our enquiry and intake process rather than booked online. See Medicare psychology.
What to bring to your first appointment
If you do not have the referral in front of you, call us anyway on 1300 123 674. We can often confirm it with your GP practice directly.
What will this cost me?
Medicare pays a rebate towards your appointment and you pay the difference. We claim the rebate for you on the day, so you only pay the gap rather than the full fee. For current fees, contact your centre.
Whether Medicare will cover your treatment depends on the referral your GP has written, not on the condition itself. Your GP decides that.
Connected care
One plan can cover more than one service, which is the point of it.
Your plan can cover several of us at once.
A diabetes plan might include podiatry for your feet, dietetics for your nutrition and exercise physiology for your activity. We work from the same plan rather than three separate ones.
Your care travels with you.
Move between our centres and your plan comes with you, so you are not starting over each visit.
Where you can be seen
Medicare-funded appointments are available at all seven of our centres, though not every service runs at every centre. Home visits and telehealth are available for some services.
For GPs and practice managers
OnePointHealth accepts chronic condition management referrals across podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics and psychology, at seven centres across Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the North Shore.
Call 1300 123 674 or send a referral through our enquiry form.
What we provide:
Written reports back after initial assessment and at the end of the referral period.
Rebates claimed on site, so your patient pays only the gap.
Appointments across seven centres, with home visits and telehealth where appropriate.
Direct contact with the treating practitioner rather than a call centre.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an EPC and a care plan?
They are the same thing under different names. The scheme has been renamed more than once and GPs, practice staff and patients all still use the older terms. If your GP has written you a referral for allied health, it works here whatever it is called.
How many sessions do I get?
A limited number each calendar year under a chronic condition management plan, shared across all allied health. Psychology sits under a separate plan with its own allowance.
Do you bulk bill?
Not currently. Medicare pays a rebate and you pay the gap, which we work out with you before your appointment. We claim the rebate on the day so you are not out of pocket for the full fee.
Does my referral expire?
The allowance resets each calendar year, and your GP reviews your plan and issues a new referral. If you are unsure where you stand, call us and we will check.
Can I use my referral at more than one OnePointHealth centre?
Yes. Your plan is not tied to a location, so you can move between centres.
My GP named a different provider on my referral. Can I still come to you?
Yes. You choose where to use your referral.
Do I need a referral to see you at all?
No. A referral is only needed for the Medicare rebate. You can book privately or claim through your health fund without one.
Start with your GP, then talk to us
If you already have a referral, send us an enquiry or call and we will book you in. If you are not sure whether you qualify, your GP is the place to start.