Medicare Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Rebates
It can be otherwise known as a CDM or Chronic Disease Management Plan.
What is an EPC Plan?
As defined by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=10962) an EPC plan can be written for an eligible patient by a General Practitioner (GP) who has:
A chronic condition, such as diabetes, where preventative care is required from the condition escalating to public health sectors;
A medical history that limits the patient in providing sufficient self-care in the management of their feet, such as arthritis, poor balance, stability or simply an inability to manage their own foot health (in most cases, cutting of their toenails due to weakness in hands, or thickness of the nails. Hardened skin, or other nail pathologies such as fungus, and ingrowing toenails can also be a reason for a referral);
A chronic foot, ankle, leg or knee injury (6+ months) that requires assessment, management or preventative care by a Podiatrist;
How can I get a EPC referral for 2 Right Feet Podiatry?
Book an appointment with your GP and discuss if you are eligible for an EPC plan with them. If you are, let them know that you wish to be referred to 2 Right Feet Podiatry and provide them with the following details:
2 Right Feet Podiatry
523 Mt Dandenong Rd, Kilsyth VIC 3137
Ph. (03)8844 7054 and Fax. (03)9859 1788
Booking and What Can You Expect From Your Appointment
When an EPC referral has been created, either the GP will fax your referral to us directly, or request that you bring it to us (either in person or emailed to us at hello@2rightfeet.com.au). Give us a call on (03)8844 7054 or book online at www.2rightfeet.com.au/book to make an appointment. Regardless of the way you book, please mention that you have a referral so we can ensure that all our prior paperwork is completed appropriately so we can ensure a smooth checkout after your appointment.
It is a legal requirement for all allied health professionals to write correspondence in the form of a letter or report to your referring GP (and any other professionals in your care plan team) after every 1st and last consultation. This report usually entails what we saw from an objective, subjective and assessment point of view, as well as treatments that we have begun and treatments that we foresee providing. Any extra assessments such as Doppler ultrasound waveforms (to monitor pedal (foot) pulses are also copied and provided to your referring GP as well. If we believe that there is anything that requires further investigation, we will also ensure that your GP is notified.
Payment
If you have a valid EPC referral for Podiatry services from your GP, you will be entitled to a rebate of $60.35 from Medicare (as of July 2024). The full fee is payable at the time of your appointment and the rebate will be submitted on your behalf. We can do this on the spot easily if you have your bank details linked to your Medicare online, or if not, please bring a debit card and your Medicare card in person for us to process the rebate.
Please note that a maximum of 5 Medicare rebateable appointments can be used across ALL allied health disciplines per calendar year. Any EPC referrals expire 1 year from the date that it was referred.
If on the off-chance we cannot claim your Medicare rebate in person, you can do so easily online through the myGov portal here: https://www2.medicareaustralia.gov.au/moaonline/#/claim (or go Medicare online > menu bar choose “Make a Claim” > “Make a Medicare claim”). We will provide your invoice with all the details in full for you to make this claim easily.
Why Don’t We Bulk Bill?
At 2 Right Feet Podiatry, we pour our heart and soul into our work, making sure that we’re up-to-date with the latest research, knowledge and skills out there in our field. By not bulk billing, we can uphold the quality that we pride ourselves in.
This means a minimum 30-minute consultation to ensure that nothing is missed and also so that we have the time to write a comprehensive report/letter back to your referring GP and any other health professionals.
We simply do more than cut your toenails and say goodbye! By having longer appointments, we have been able to provide education and treatment for those who have questions about other things, or simply things we pick up during our assessments! The number of times we have been able to pick up other chronic health conditions (heart arrhythmias, rheumatoid arthritis, gout) or simply find a wart, corn or callus that you have never noticed before is too many to count.
If on your first appointment, we deem you low-risk, we can definitely discuss shorter appointment options if you are concerned about finances.
