Referrals, Medicare & telehealth
Prepare questions about referrals, rebates, appointment format and out-of-pocket costs before arranging allied health care.
Medicare chronic condition pathways
Eligible patients may access allied health services through a GP chronic condition management plan and a valid referral. The usual individual-service allowance is shared across eligible professions, rather than a separate allowance for each. Services Australia currently describes up to five individual services per calendar year, or up to ten for eligible Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients.
Older GP management plans and team care arrangements made before 1 July 2025 have transitional arrangements until 30 June 2027. Ask your GP and clinic which referral applies to you and how many services remain.
A rebate is not automatically a free appointment
Confirm the appointment fee, expected rebate, any gap and how payment is processed. Your GP decides whether a referral is clinically appropriate. Bring the referral and relevant plan details; do not assume an old referral remains valid.
When telehealth may fit
Telehealth can support some consultations, but availability, clinical suitability and funding must be checked for the specific appointment. WorkSafe Victoria requires clinically appropriate care and sets provider, relationship and other conditions. An appointment requiring a physical or neurological examination may need to be in person.
Ask which platform is used, whether a private space and a support person are needed, and what happens if the connection fails.
Before you book
- Which referral and documents do you need?
- What will I pay, and what can I claim?
- Is this practitioner eligible for my funding pathway?
- Is an in-person examination needed?
WorkCover, TAC, private health and Medicare have different rules; approval under one pathway does not establish eligibility under another.
Explore related guides
Planning care in Melbourne’s north
For people in Epping, Mill Park, Lalor, Reservoir and surrounding suburbs, Muscle Joint Bone is located at 26 Childs Road, Epping. Ask the team which appointment is appropriate and confirm practitioner availability before booking.
Sources and further reading
Education updated 2 November 2026. Source topics have been rewritten; older source advice is not automatically endorsed. This guide cannot diagnose symptoms or replace individual healthcare advice.
