Medicare & Speech Therapy: GP Chronic Condition Management Plans (GPCCMP) Explained

Erin Nicklin
21 hours ago
2 min read

Medicare funding for speech therapy can feel confusing.

You might hear terms like:

“EPC”
“Care plan”
“Chronic disease plan”
“Five Medicare sessions”

Since July 2025, the structure has changed. Here’s what families need to know.

Child in a blue polka-dot jacket holds a magnifying glass, magnifying one eye. Neutral background, curious expression.

What Is a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)?

From 1 July 2025, the previous GP Management Plan (GPMP) and Team Care Arrangement (TCA) were replaced with a new model called a:

GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP)

This plan is created by a GP for someone who:

Has a chronic condition (lasting 6 months or more), and
Requires multidisciplinary care.

For children, this might include:

Developmental Language Disorder
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Persistent speech sound disorders
Stuttering
Feeding disorders
Autism-related communication needs

If eligible, your GP prepares a GPCCMP and provides a referral to allied health providers such as a speech pathologist.

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How Many Sessions Does Medicare Cover?

Under a GPCCMP, Medicare allows:

Up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year (January–December).

These 5 sessions:

Can all be speech pathologyOR
Can be shared across providers (e.g., speech + OT)

For speech pathology, the Medicare item number is:

10970 – Speech Pathology Health Service

Service Requirements

To claim Medicare under 10970:

A GPCCMP must be in place
A valid referral must be written
The service must last at least 20 minutes
The therapy must align with the GP’s plan
The patient can access a maximum of 5 sessions per calendar year

The 5-session cap includes:

Face-to-face appointments
Video appointments
Phone appointments

The limit resets every January.

Child in orange shirt excitedly plays with a sensory tray of sand and shells in a bright room. Shelves and decor in background.

Our Fees & Medicare Rebates

At Each Speech Pear Plum, we charge our standard hourly rate for therapy sessions.

Medicare does not set provider fees. Instead, Medicare sets a scheduled fee and pays a rebate toward the service.

For Item 10970:

Medicare scheduled fee: $72.65
Medicare rebate: $61.80

If you choose to use Medicare:

You pay our standard session fee at the time of your appointment.
Medicare rebates $61.80 back to you.
The remaining amount is your out-of-pocket gap.

Medicare is designed as a contribution toward care — not full coverage.

We provide clear fee information before appointments so there are no surprises.

Reporting Requirements

Medicare requires the speech pathologist to provide a written report to the referring GP:

After the first service, OR
After the final service, OR
If clinically relevant information arises that the GP would reasonably expect to receive

This is a compliance requirement.

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Is 5 Sessions Enough?

For many communication conditions, five sessions per year is not sufficient for meaningful progress.

Medicare’s GPCCMP model is designed to contribute toward therapy — not replace ongoing intervention.

Many families combine:

Medicare rebates
NDIS funding (if eligible)
Private funding

If you’re unsure whether your child is eligible, speak to your GP or contact our team for guidance.

For more information or to book an assessment, visit Each Speech Pear Plum or contact us directly. We’re here to support your child’s journey to better communication, ensuring they have the most fun along the way.