Confused about the Medicare rebate? This is for you!
Podiatry is an important profession for managing many conditions of the foot including but not limited to foot pain, plantar fasciitis and diabetes. Some people may not be aware they can access a medicare rebate for their podiatry appointments depending on their eligibility. We have provided you with some more information to understand if this may be something you can qualify for and how to access it.
Can I get a Medicare rebate for my podiatry appointment?
Yes. BUT it will depend on your eligibility for Team Care Arrangement (TCA) or previously known as a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan or an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program. Not everyone will be eligible for this referral and it will depend on an assessment by your GP
Are you eligible for a Medicare rebate?
A Medicare rebate is made available through a Team Care Arrangement (TCA). You will need to attend your GP to check if you are eligible for this referral.
To be eligible for this service you would require to have a diagnosed chronic medical condition, in which have been, or are likely to be, present for at least 6 months. This includes conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, musculoskeletal conditions and stroke.
From here, your GP will refer you to a specific Podiatry clinic and create a care plan which you sign and agree on your goals and work with an allied health professional (in this case a podiatrist) to achieve them.
How many visits will the Medicare EPC rebate cover?
Depending on your condition and if you need other allied health services involved on your TCA a rebate from Medicare is available for up to 5 visits per calendar year.
Your GP will choose how many visits to allocate for a particular practitioner/s; for example, you may be allocated 2 visits to a Physiotherapist and 3 visits to a Podiatrist.
How much does the Medicare Rebate cover?
Currently as of May 2023, the Medicare rebate for podiatry is $56.00 for each of your allocated visits to the Podiatrist. At our Whittlesea Foot and Ankle clinic we do not offer a bulk billing service and there will be a small gap payment.
To provide you with an example of cost, our initial consultation and subsequent consultation for an TCA patient is $72. Medicare will rebate you $56 of your consultation, leaving you with a gap of $16. In our clinic, our TCA patients are required to pay the full consultation amount of $72.
We then logon to the Medicare Online Portal and claim your rebate of $56 for you which will be deposited into your bank account (which Medicare should already have) within 24-48 hours.
This means there’s no need for you to cue up at your local Medicare to claim your rebate, we take care of that for you!
Points to remember:
- Yes! You can get a Medicare rebate for podiatry, using the TCA/EPC/CDM program
- To be eligible for an TCA, you have to had a chronic health condition that has been present for more than 3 months
- You will need a referral from your GP allocating you up to 5 visits to see a specific allied health professional or in our case, a Podiatrist
- You will need to pay the full consultation fee upfront at your appointment
- We claim your rebate online for you and $56 will be deposited into your account within 24-48 hours of your consultation with your Podiatrist
