In this episode of Medicubes, hosts Riwka, Kim, and Chris outline the upcoming changes to chronic disease management and care planning in general practice, focusing on the shift from the traditional CDM (Chronic Disease Management) items to the new GPCCMP (General Practice Chronic Condition Management Plan) items effective 1st July.

They target primary care Practice Managers and team members preparing for these changes, summarising implications for workflows, patient eligibility, and Medicare billing.

Key Points:

Transition to New Item Numbers:

• From 1st July 2025, existing MBS CDM items (721, 723, 732) will be replaced by new GPCCMP items—965 (preparation of a new plan) and 967 (reviews). The new system removes the old team care arrangement structure.
• The same Medicare rebate amount applies to both the care plan and reviews: $156.55 for VR GPs and $125.30 for non-VR GPs.

Bulk Billing Incentive Changes:

• A single bulk billing incentive applies to eligible patients, with expanded eligibility from 1 November. Practices should be mindful of the distinction between single and triple incentives depending on the item billed.

Team Assisting with Care Planning:

• Nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, and Aboriginal health workers can assist in the development of care plans.
• Ongoing involvement of nurses is encouraged, with structured check-ins possible between three-monthly reviews.

Patient Eligibility and MyMedicare Registration:

• Eligibility for GPCCMP remains the same as for CDM—patients with a chronic or terminal medical condition (six months or longer).
• A key change is restriction via MyMedicare registration: once a patient is registered to a practice, they can only access care plans from that practice.

Transition Considerations:

• Existing CDM plans remain valid for allied health referrals for 12 months post transition.
• Practices should be aware of co-claiming restrictions (consultation items cannot be claimed at the same time as care planning items).

If you’re after some tips or inspiration on managing change, we had some brilliant chats with Dr Maria Bolton (Episode 33) and Dr Jaspreet Saini (Episode 34) on the Medicubes podcast. Both episodes are well worth a listen!

Links & Resources:

• https://www.cubiko.com.au/gpccmp/

The episode reinforces the importance of quality improvement, teamwork, and taking a flexible, patient-centred approach to the new system.

Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

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