About the changes to Chronic disease management plans in November 2024.
From 1 November 2024, MBS items will be changing to:
- replace the current GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements with a single GP Chronic Condition Management Plan
Impact on GPs: GPs will lose the opportunity to bill GPMP as a stand-alone service. If there is no team to engage, there will be no Care Plan. Currently, GPs can elect to bill GPMP (item 721) for patients with chronic conditions without billing Team Care Arrangement (item 723).
Preparation Tips: The key is to improve the process of identifying patients eligible for CDM services and engaging them effectively. Some methods have proven effective for this.
- support continuity of care by requiring patients enrolled in MyMedicare to access management plans through the practice where they are enrolled. Patients who aren’t enrolled will be able to access management plans through their usual GP.
Impact on GPs: It is an additional hurdle for GPs.
Preparation Tips: Providing comprehensive care and practising investigative, in-depth medicine would assist in developing the bond between patients and practitioners.
- encourage management plan reviews by:
- equalising the fees for developing and reviewing plans
- requiring patients to have their plan established or reviewed in the last 18 months so they can retain access to allied health and other services
Impact on GPs: The fees for Care Plans will be reduced, and the fees for Care Plan Review will be slightly increased. The overall fee will probably be reduced. Extending the referral period to 18 months would also extend the billing period for the Care Plan.
Preparation Tips: There is no way to prepare for this. Some clinics rather prudently began developing auxiliary services, e.g., travel clinics, iron infusions, etc. This is by itself a significant development requiring labour-intensive actions in business, marketing, and management.
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