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Bulk Billing Podiatrist: How the Medicare Pathway Works

Podiatry is only Medicare-rebated under a GP care plan: $63.40 back per session, up to 5 shared sessions a year. Here is how to qualify and find a clinic that bulk bills.

How do I see a podiatrist bulk billed?

Two things need to line up. First, 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, and refers you for podiatry as part of your 5 Medicare-rebated allied health sessions for the calendar year, per Services Australia. Second, you pick a podiatrist who bulk bills, accepting the $63.40 rebate (MBS item 10962, from 1 July 2026) as full payment; otherwise you pay the gap.

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

Before the clinical questions, three basics decide whether the care plan pathway is open to you at all.

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.

Why podiatry referrals are so common under care plans

Podiatry is one of the most used allied health services under the chronic condition framework, largely because of diabetes. Regular podiatry review is part of standard diabetes care in Australia: checking circulation and sensation, treating skin and nail problems early, and preventing the foot ulcers that drive hospital admissions. Chronic arthritis, peripheral vascular disease, and long-term biomechanical problems are other conditions where a GP may assess that podiatry belongs on the plan.

What the rebate covers and what you might still pay

Each eligible podiatry session under a plan attracts a $63.40 Medicare rebate. A bulk billing podiatrist accepts that amount as full payment, so the visit costs you $0. Clinics that charge above the rebate leave you a gap to pay, and fees vary enough between clinics that asking up front matters. The plan itself must have been prepared or reviewed within the last 18 months for referrals to stay valid, and the 5-session allowance is shared across all allied health on your plan for the calendar year.

How to find a bulk billing podiatrist near you

No public register records which podiatrists bulk bill, so call and ask: do you bulk bill care plan sessions, and do you bulk bill concession card holders? To build a shortlist near you, search the healthdirect service finder or the Australian Podiatry Association's Find a Podiatrist directory. Community health centres are the other strong option: most states run low-cost podiatry clinics that prioritise people with diabetes, older patients, and concession card holders.

How NewDoc fits in

NewDoc is a telehealth GP service, not a podiatry clinic. A NewDoc GP can assess whether your condition qualifies for a chronic condition management plan, prepare it with you where clinically appropriate, and email you your copy of the plan and the podiatry referral after the consult. You choose any podiatrist; 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 podiatry?

Only under a GP chronic condition management plan. If your GP assesses that you have a chronic condition (6 months or longer) with complex care needs that include podiatry, they can refer you under the plan, and Medicare rebates $63.40 per session (MBS item 10962, from 1 July 2026) for up to 5 allied health sessions per calendar year, shared across all allied health services on the plan.

Is podiatry bulk billed if you have diabetes?

Often, but it is the podiatrist's choice, not an automatic rule. Diabetes is one of the most common conditions behind podiatry referrals because regular foot checks help prevent ulcers and infections, and many podiatry clinics bulk bill care plan sessions for patients with diabetes, especially concession card holders. Ask the clinic when you book.

Does Medicare cover toenail cutting?

Routine nail cutting for otherwise healthy feet is generally not what the care plan pathway is for. Where nail and skin care is part of managing a chronic condition, for example diabetes-related foot risk or peripheral vascular disease, your GP can assess whether a podiatry referral under a plan is clinically appropriate.

How many podiatry visits does Medicare pay for?

Up to 5 individual allied health sessions per calendar year under a chronic condition management plan, shared across every allied health service on the plan (podiatry, physio, dietetics and so on). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can access up to 10. The count resets on 1 January.

Can a telehealth GP refer me to a podiatrist?

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 podiatry referral afterwards. At NewDoc the GP consult is bulk billed: $0 if you are Medicare eligible. The referral does not lock you to a clinic; you choose the podiatrist.

What does a podiatry visit cost without a care plan?

Private podiatry fees vary by clinic and city, and there is no Medicare rebate without a care plan referral. Private health extras cover often includes podiatry, and DVA card holders may be covered under Veterans' Affairs arrangements. Community health centres in most states also run low-cost podiatry clinics, with priority for people with diabetes and concession cards.

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