Diabetes care plans Diabetes is a complex condition, and people often need extra support to manage their health on a daily basis. A diabetes care plan gives you subsidised access to allied health professionals to get you the best care possible. What is a care plan? A diabetes care plan is a type of GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP). General practitioners (GP), nurse practitioners and practice nurses can write GPCCMPs. These were previously referred to as GP Management Plans (GPMPs) or Team Care Arrangements. Care plans are available to anyone living with diabetes and often require your GP to provide you with referrals to specialised health services as part of your healthcare team. In considering all your health needs, your GP, nurse practitioner or practice nurse will help you develop a diabetes care plan that takes into consideration other medical conditions you may have, your health goals, and things you can do to manage your condition and optimise your health. In addition to practical health management advice, a diabetes care plan also provides subsided access to allied health professionals so that you receive the very best care possible. How do care plans work? Allied health professionals, such as a dietitian, diabetes educator, exercise physiologist or podiatrist, can provide you with ongoing support as part of your diabetes healthcare team. Diabetes care plans allow people living with diabetes to visit five allied health professionals per calendar year. These visits are eligible for a Medicare rebate. You can choose to use all five visits with the same health professional or split them up so you can see a range of specialists for a wider range of diabetes self-management support. Your GP will provide standard referral letters for the health services in your care plan. Referrals should provide reasons for the referral and include necessary information about you to provide context. Referral letters can be printed or sent electronically. If your private allied health professional accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service, there will be no out-of-pocket cost. If not, you’ll have to pay the difference between the fee charged and the Medicare rebate. Group education programs If you are living with type 2 diabetes, you may also be eligible to attend a type 2 diabetes group education program run by diabetes educators, exercise physiologists and dietitians in your local area. These sessions are approximately an hour long and are run in small groups. Your diabetes care plan lets you attend up to eight subsidised group education sessions each calendar year. When should I get a care plan? You should visit your GP to get a diabetes care plan as soon as possible after you are diagnosed. Similar to referrals to medical specialists, your GP will need to provide a standard referral letter for allied health services that are valid for 18 months. Top tips for an effective care plan You only have five individual allied health visits per year so use them wisely: Talk to your GP, nurse practitioner or practice nurse about how frequently you need to visit certain allied health professionals (some do not require multiple visits per year). Discuss with your GP, nurse practitioner or practice nurse which services will best help you to reach your goals. Some services are eligible for a Medicare rebate. Some may still have an out-of-pocket cost. Talk to the allied health professional before your appointment to find out if you will need to pay. If you’re not sure where to start goal setting and planning, come along to one of our diabetes programs to get a taste of what it’s all about.
