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Bulk Billing Dietitian: What Medicare Covers

Medicare rebates dietitian visits only under a GP care plan: $63.40 per session, up to 5 shared sessions a year. Here is the pathway, step by step.

Does Medicare cover a dietitian, and how do I get the rebate?

Yes, through a GP care plan. A GP prepares a chronic condition management plan for a condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, 6 months or more with complex care needs (type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and chronic gut conditions are common examples), then refers you to an Accredited Practising Dietitian. Medicare rebates $63.40 per session (MBS item 10954, from 1 July 2026) for up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year, shared across the plan, per Services Australia. Dietitians who bulk bill accept the rebate as full payment.

A NewDoc telehealth GP can assess eligibility and prepare the plan where clinically appropriate. The GP consult is bulk billed: $0 if you are Medicare eligible.

Check if you could be eligible

Three quick questions cover the non-clinical gates before a GP assesses the rest.

Could you be eligible for a GP care plan?

Three quick answers. Nothing is collected or stored.

Do you have a GP or practice you see regularly?
Are you registered with a GP clinic for MyMedicare?

A voluntary Medicare registration linking you to one clinic, usually set up in myGov. Not sure is fine.

Have you had a GP care plan prepared or reviewed in the last 18 months?

Also called a chronic disease management plan, GPMP, or EPC plan. A recent review counts as current.

General information only, not medical advice or a Medicare decision. A GP confirms eligibility after a clinical assessment; rebates and bulk billed sessions are never guaranteed.

When a dietitian belongs on a care plan

Dietetic care earns its place on a chronic condition management plan when food is part of managing the disease. Type 2 diabetes is the clearest case: structured dietary support is a core part of blood glucose management in Australian care guidelines. High cholesterol and heart disease, chronic kidney disease (where protein and salt targets matter), coeliac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome managed with a dietitian-supervised FODMAP approach are other common reasons a GP refers. The GP decides during the consult whether your condition and goals fit the framework.

What a dietitian visit costs

Private dietitian consultations are typically longer for the first visit, and fees vary by clinic. Under a care plan, Medicare rebates $63.40 per session: a bulk billing dietitian accepts that as full payment ($0 to you), while others charge a gap above it. Without a plan there is no Medicare rebate, though private health extras with dietetic cover can apply. The plan must have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months for referrals to remain valid.

How to find a bulk billing dietitian near you

Ask directly when booking: do you bulk bill care plan sessions? Dietitians Australia's Find a Dietitian directory lists Accredited Practising Dietitians by suburb and telehealth availability, and the healthdirect service finder covers community options. Hospital outpatient and community health centre dietetic clinics run in most regions at low or no cost, usually prioritising diabetes, kidney, and cardiac patients.

How NewDoc fits in

NewDoc is a telehealth GP service, not a dietetics clinic. A NewDoc GP can assess whether your condition qualifies, prepare the chronic condition management plan with you where clinically appropriate, and email you your copy of the plan and the dietitian referral after the consult. You choose the dietitian; NewDoc has no commercial arrangement with any allied health provider. The GP consultation and plan reviews (every 3 to 6 months) are bulk billed, $0 if you are Medicare eligible. Your records and follow-up care stay with the same practice.

References

This content is informational and does not replace individual medical advice. For personal assessment, book a consultation with your GP. In emergencies, call 000.

Reviewed by Dr. Jason Yu FRACGP

Last reviewed 7 July 2026. Editorial policy

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Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover seeing a dietitian?

Yes, but only under a GP chronic condition management plan. If your GP assesses that a chronic condition (6 months or longer) involves complex care needs that dietetic care should be part of, they can refer you, and Medicare rebates $63.40 per session (MBS item 10954, from 1 July 2026) for up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year, shared across all allied health services on your plan.

Which conditions qualify for a Medicare dietitian referral?

It is the GP's clinical call rather than a fixed list, but common examples include type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol, obesity when managed as a chronic condition, chronic kidney disease, coeliac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. The condition generally needs to have lasted, or be expected to last, 6 months or more, and involve complex care needs: broadly, care from other health professionals alongside your GP.

Do dietitians bulk bill?

Some do, some charge a gap: it is each provider's choice. A bulk billing dietitian accepts the $63.40 Medicare rebate as full payment for a care plan session, so you pay $0. Others charge their standard fee and you claim the rebate back. Ask when booking, and mention a concession card if you hold one, since many clinics bulk bill concession patients.

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

In Australia 'nutritionist' is not a regulated title, so anyone can use it. Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) complete an accredited university degree and ongoing professional standards through Dietitians Australia, and only eligible dietitians can provide Medicare-rebated services under a care plan. If the Medicare rebate matters to you, confirm the provider is an APD.

Can I get a dietitian referral through a telehealth GP?

Yes, where clinically appropriate. A GP can prepare the chronic condition management plan by video telehealth (MBS item 92029) and email you the plan and dietitian referral afterwards. At NewDoc the GP consult is bulk billed: $0 if you are Medicare eligible. Many dietitians also consult by telehealth themselves, which counts within the same 5 sessions.

Are there extra Medicare-funded dietitian services for type 2 diabetes?

Yes. Beyond the 5 individual allied health sessions, Medicare has separate group services items for people with type 2 diabetes, covering GP-referred group education programs run by dietitians, exercise physiologists, and diabetes educators. Your GP can advise whether a group program suits your situation alongside or instead of individual sessions.

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