Hundreds of GPs warned over incorrect Medicare billing of chronic disease patients

Chronic disease patients are entitled to five subsidised appointments a year for management and support services on top of their more comprehensive appointment for a chronic disease management plan and review. Photograph: Maskot/Getty Images

Patients are missing out on subsidised medical appointments for chronic diseases due to incorrect Medicare billing by GPs, prompting the Australian health department to issue hundreds of warnings.

Throughout February compliance letters were sent to 596 healthcare providers who regularly claimed subsidies from the government for developing or reviewing a chronic disease management plan for their patients and, for the same appointment, also claimed a separate subsidy for providing chronic disease management and support services.