0403 907 587
(08) 7118 5399
177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023
physio@upplus.com.auBulk Billing Physiotherapy in Adelaide
UpPlus Physiotherapy bulk bills care plan physiotherapy across Adelaide from our clinic at 177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton, and from rooms inside partner GP practices at Modbury and Stepney. Free on-site parking at Seaton, and evening appointments for people who cannot take time off work.
No gap, no out of pocket cost — what that actually means
A no gap physiotherapy appointment means the Medicare benefit covers the session in full and we accept it as complete payment. You are not asked for a co-payment, you do not pay a difference at reception, and there is no out of pocket expense to claim back from anyone afterwards. You walk out having paid nothing.
This applies to care plan sessions — appointments funded by a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, where you bring a valid referral and your Medicare card. It is worth being precise about that, because a standard private physiotherapy appointment is not bulk billed and does have a cost. If you are unsure which one you are booking, call us on 0403 907 587 and we will tell you before you attend rather than at the desk afterwards.
How Bulk-Billed Physiotherapy Works
- Ask your GP whether a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (GPCCMP — previously called a GP Management Plan or EPC) suits your condition. Your GP decides eligibility, and a valid referral from your GP is required before sessions can be bulk billed.
- Your GP refers you to UpPlus Physiotherapy Seaton — they can fax the referral to (08) 7118 5399 or email physio@upplus.com.au, or you can bring it with you.
- We bulk bill Medicare for your referred sessions, so there is no out-of-pocket cost to you for those visits.
Who is eligible?
GP Chronic Condition Management Plans are for people with a chronic medical condition — generally one present for six months or longer, such as ongoing back or neck pain, arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions. Medicare covers up to five allied health visits per calendar year under the plan. Your GP determines whether you qualify, and a valid GP referral is required — if you're unsure, ask at your next GP visit, or call us and we'll explain what to ask for.
What Your Bulk-Billed Sessions Include
Referred patients receive the same care as every UpPlus patient: an individual assessment, hands-on physiotherapy, and an exercise program built around your goals. Depending on your needs, treatment may draw on:
- Hands-on (manual) physiotherapy
- Exercise rehabilitation and gym-based programs
- Dry needling
- Shockwave therapy, laser, electrotherapy and therapeutic ultrasound
- Hydrotherapy (by referral)
We send regular progress updates to your referring GP, so your care stays coordinated.
Other Funding We Accept
Beyond GP Chronic Condition Management Plans, UpPlus Physiotherapy Seaton also welcomes ReturnToWorkSA work-injury claims (including RTWSA physiotherapy management plans), NDIS participants, DVA card holders, and private patients with HICAPS/Tyro on-the-spot health fund claims.
Bulk-billed physiotherapy: common questions
Is physiotherapy bulk billed in Australia?
Not routinely. Physiotherapy is bulk billed only when it is funded by a specific programme — most commonly a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, and also DVA, and some ReturnToWorkSA and NDIS arrangements. There is no general Medicare rebate for seeing a physiotherapist the way there is for seeing a GP, so a standard private appointment is paid for by you or claimed on your private extras.
How many bulk-billed physiotherapy sessions can I get?
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan covers up to five allied health services per calendar year in total — and that five is shared across every allied health provider you see, not five per provider. If you are also seeing a podiatrist or a dietitian under the same plan, you are all drawing from the same five. The allocation resets on 1 January.
Do I need a referral for bulk-billed physiotherapy?
Yes. Bulk billing under a care plan requires a referral from your GP, because it is the GP who creates the plan and decides how the sessions are allocated. You do not need a referral to see a physiotherapist privately — physiotherapy is a direct-access profession in Australia — but you do need one for Medicare to pay.
Am I eligible for a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan?
Generally you need a chronic medical condition that has been present, or is expected to be present, for at least six months — persistent back or neck pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes and similar. Your GP makes that decision, not us. If you think you might qualify, ask your GP directly about a Chronic Condition Management Plan and whether physiotherapy should be part of it.
What does bulk billed actually mean for what I pay?
Bulk billed means we bill Medicare directly and you pay nothing on the day. There is no gap and nothing to claim back afterwards. You bring your referral and your Medicare card, and that is the whole transaction.
What happens after my five sessions run out?
You can keep being treated — those visits become standard private appointments, which you can claim on private health extras if you have them. Your GP can also issue a new plan in the next calendar year. We will tell you when you are on your last funded session rather than letting you find out at reception.
Is there any gap or out of pocket cost for bulk billed physiotherapy?
No. For care plan sessions there is no gap and no out of pocket cost. UpPlus Physiotherapy accepts the Medicare benefit as payment in full, so you are not asked for a co-payment on the day and there is nothing to claim back afterwards. This applies to appointments funded by a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan where you bring a valid referral and your Medicare card — a standard private physiotherapy appointment is not bulk billed and does have a fee.
What do I need to bring to a bulk-billed physiotherapy appointment?
Two things: your valid GP referral under a Chronic Condition Management Plan, and your Medicare card. We need both to bill Medicare on your behalf. If either is missing on the day the appointment still goes ahead, but it becomes a standard private consultation that you pay for, so it is worth checking before you leave home.
Do you fully bulk bill care plan physiotherapy?
Yes. For patients referred under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, UpPlus Physiotherapy bulk bills the session in full. We accept the Medicare benefit as complete payment, so there is no gap and no out-of-pocket cost on the day.
Where can I get bulk billed physiotherapy in Adelaide?
Yes. UpPlus Physiotherapy at 177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023 accepts GP Chronic Condition Management Plan referrals, with free on-site parking and evening appointments. We see patients from Findon, Fulham Gardens, Grange, Henley Beach, West Lakes, Woodville, Lockleys and Port Adelaide.
Visiting Us
We're at 177 Trimmer Parade, Seaton SA 5023, with free on-site parking. Open weekdays with evening appointments available. We see patients from across western Adelaide — Findon, Fulham Gardens, Grange, Henley Beach, West Lakes, Woodville, Royal Park, Semaphore Park, Albert Park, Kidman Park, Flinders Park, Lockleys and Port Adelaide.
Calls to 0403 907 587 are answered any time of day, and you can book online below in about a minute.