ME/CFS and Medicare in Australia

The Australian ME/CFS Service Models and care pathways have been developed to be used with current Australian Medicare Chronic Disease Management Funding and the restraints of Australian primary care service funding. They enable patients to access care planning and referrals to allied health and community programs (Medicare Chronic Disease Management) under Chronic Condition Medicare arrangements.

Medicare funded Care Plans are provided through local GP centres, and facilitates referrals to allied health and community education programs. They enable the central monitoring of treatments, as well as the coordination of all service interventions. Patients are encouraged to take an active role in decision-making. Services available for patients vary according to Government Policy and between States (hospitals and Primary Care Centres are usually State-funded); additional services are accessed using patients’ various private health covers.

It is our understanding that in the current reforms to Medicare, funding may change to include more practice nurse and allied health consultations.