What is the Chronic Disease Management plan?
The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan — previously known as the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan — is a Medicare program that allows GPs to refer patients with chronic conditions to allied health professionals including exercise physiologists. Under this scheme, eligible patients receive up to five subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year.
For many people, a Medicare CDM referral to an exercise physiologist means accessing professional exercise physiology services with little or no out-of-pocket cost — a significant benefit for people managing long-term health conditions on a fixed income.
Key fact: Exercise physiology has been an eligible allied health discipline under the Medicare CDM program since 2008. Your GP has the option to refer you to an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) as part of your care plan alongside other allied health professionals.
Who qualifies for a Medicare CDM referral?
To qualify for a Medicare CDM referral, you must have a chronic condition — defined by Medicare as a condition that has been present, or is likely to be present, for six months or longer. This includes a very wide range of conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease and heart failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
- Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
- Obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Chronic back pain and musculoskeletal conditions
- Depression and anxiety (where exercise is part of the management plan)
- Cancer (during and after treatment)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease and stroke
Your GP determines whether your condition qualifies. If you have any ongoing health condition and you're not sure whether you'd qualify, the best step is simply to raise it with your GP at your next appointment.
How many sessions do you get under Medicare?
Medicare CDM plans allow up to five allied health sessions per calendar year (January to December). These five sessions can be split across multiple allied health disciplines — for example, three exercise physiology sessions and two dietitian sessions — or all five can be used with one provider.
Your GP determines how many sessions to allocate to each discipline based on your care plan. If you want all five sessions with Exercare, discuss this with your GP when they prepare your CDM plan.
Tip: If you've already used some CDM sessions earlier in the year with another provider, you can still use your remaining sessions with Exercare. Sessions do not have to be used with the same provider. Ask your GP or call Exercare and we'll help you work out what's remaining.
How much does Medicare-rebated exercise physiology cost?
Medicare sets a rebate amount for allied health sessions under the CDM program. As of 2026, the Medicare rebate for an exercise physiology session is approximately $58 per session. Providers may charge above this amount (a gap fee applies) or at the Medicare rate (bulk billing — no gap).
Exercare offers Medicare bulk billing for eligible CDM clients — meaning no out-of-pocket cost for your exercise physiology sessions. Contact us to confirm current bulk billing availability.
Have a Medicare CDM referral?
Exercare bulk bills eligible Medicare clients across south-east Melbourne. Contact us to arrange your first session — we'll come to you.
Step by step: how to access exercise physiology under Medicare
- Book a GP appointment — tell your GP you'd like a referral to an exercise physiologist under the Chronic Disease Management plan
- Your GP prepares a CDM plan — this involves completing a GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) form. Your GP will allocate a number of sessions to exercise physiology
- You receive your referral — this is a printed or electronic referral letter specifying your condition and the number of allied health sessions allocated
- Contact Exercare — call or submit our intake form and bring your referral to your first appointment (or send it in advance)
- We come to you — your exercise physiologist visits you at home, a local gym, hydrotherapy pool or other convenient location across south-east Melbourne
- Medicare is billed — if bulk billing, nothing to pay. If a gap applies, you pay the gap only
What happens in a Medicare exercise physiology session?
Your initial session is an assessment — your exercise physiologist reviews your medical history, current medications, physical capacity, and the specific goals outlined in your CDM plan. They then design a personalised exercise program targeting your condition and goals.
Follow-up sessions involve supervised exercise, program progression, and regular reassessment. Your exercise physiologist also provides written progress notes that can be shared with your GP, supporting continuity of care and future CDM plan reviews.
All Exercare sessions are delivered at your preferred location — we come to you, removing the transport barrier that prevents many people from attending clinic-based care.
Can I use Medicare and private health together?
No — you cannot claim the same session through both Medicare and private health insurance. You choose one or the other per session. In most cases, the Medicare rebate is higher than private health extras for exercise physiology, so CDM sessions are best claimed through Medicare. Once your five CDM sessions are used, any additional sessions can be claimed through your private health extras if applicable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see an exercise physiologist under Medicare?
Yes — for Medicare rebates, a GP referral under a CDM plan is required. You cannot self-refer for Medicare-rebated sessions. For NDIS, private health and self-funded sessions, no referral is needed.
Can I get more than 5 sessions per year?
The Medicare CDM program caps allied health sessions at 5 per calendar year. However, you can continue sessions at your own expense or under private health after the 5 sessions are used. A new CDM plan can be issued in the next calendar year.
Does my GP have to bulk bill the CDM plan appointment?
No — your GP charges separately for the CDM plan appointment. The bulk billing applies to the allied health sessions with Exercare, not the GP visit to create the plan.