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Bulk Billing Podiatrist: How the Medicare Pathway Works

Podiatry is only Medicare-rebated under a care plan from your usual GP: $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, your usual 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.

The plan must come from your MyMedicare practice or usual GP, so NewDoc does not prepare it. A NewDoc GP can still help with the condition behind it, such as diabetes reviews, bulk billed: $0 if you are Medicare eligible.

Who prepares the plan

Medicare requires the plan, its reviews and the podiatry referral to come from the practice you are registered with under MyMedicare, or from your usual GP, the one who provides most of your care. NewDoc is a telehealth service most people use alongside their regular practice, so NewDoc does not prepare care plans. Book a longer appointment with the practice you normally attend and say it is about a chronic condition management plan; our care plan guide covers what to ask for.

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, and the care plan comes from your usual GP, so NewDoc does not prepare it. Where a NewDoc GP can help is the condition behind the referral: for type 2 diabetes, that means bulk billed reviews by video, medication adjustments, HbA1c and other blood test referrals, and specialist referrals where needed, $0 if you are Medicare eligible. You can see any podiatrist privately without a referral; NewDoc has no commercial arrangement with any allied health provider.

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 5 September 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?

Not for Medicare-rebated sessions. The plan and referral that unlock the rebate must come from the practice you are registered with under MyMedicare, or from your usual GP, so NewDoc does not prepare plans or issue plan-based referrals. If your own practice offers video appointments, the plan consult can happen by video through them (MBS item 92029; there is no phone item). You can see a podiatrist privately without any referral.

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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