New CDM items 965 & 967: What has changed and what GPs need to do now

General practice has entered a new chapter in chronic disease care. For the first time in more than two decades, Medicare has reformed the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) structure, retiring long-standing items like the GPMP (721) and TCA (723), and replacing them with a simpler, more flexible planning model.

At the centre of this reform are two new MBS items 965 and 967, signalling a move toward patient-centred, adaptable chronic care that better reflects the complexity of modern general practice.

What’s new: MBS items 965 and 967

The new model consists of just two core items:

• Item 965 – Development of a care plan for a patient with one or more chronic conditions.

• Item 967 – Review of the care plan.

Both items attract a rebate of $156.55, and importantly, they remove the need for a separate Team Care Arrangement item. This is a major step forward in reducing administrative burden while empowering GPs to build multidisciplinary input into the plan where appropriate, without jumping through formal billing hoops.

Patients now need only to have one or more chronic conditions, as defined clinically by the GP, rather than meeting narrow disease-specific criteria. This is especially important for patients with overlapping or compounding conditions, such as diabetes and depression, or asthma and perimenopause.

Implications for general practice

For practices already delivering strong chronic disease care, these reforms should feel more like streamlining than disruption. The administrative load is lighter, and care planning is no longer confined to structured formats that don’t always reflect real-world patient needs.

This shift is also likely to help practices improve patient engagement. By allowing greater flexibility in how care plans are developed and reviewed, GPs can create plans that are more meaningful to patients, incorporating their lived experience, preferences, and broader health goals.

Item 965 opens the door to a more holistic model of chronic disease management. Rather than focusing on a single condition, GPs can take a multimorbidity approach, addressing the interplay between physical illness, mental health, and lifestyle.

This is especially relevant for:

• Women’s health, where hormonal and reproductive health often intersects with chronic conditions like diabetes, thyroid disease, or cardiovascular risk.

• Lifestyle medicine, including nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress management.

• Mental health, particularly in patients with chronic pain, fatigue, or long-term disability.

In short, this model supports what many GPs already know: chronic disease management isn’t just about ticking boxes for HbA1c or spirometry. It’s about caring for the whole person.

Recommended learning: Skills for the new model

As Medicare aligns with contemporary clinical practice, it’s also a signal to upskill. GPs who want to lead confidently in chronic care may consider the following professional development:

• A Certificate Course in Chronic Disease & Conditions — such as our comprehensive, university-assured Professional Diploma pathway to equip you with advanced skills in planning, reviewing, and delivering evidence-based care across a range of chronic conditions.
• Short courses in focused areas of chronic disease management — such as our 23 Micro-Courses in Chronic Disease & Conditions which you can complete in under 10 hours from only $95.

The introduction of items 965 and 967 marks a positive shift toward simplified, flexible, and patient-centred chronic disease care. But while the paperwork may be lighter, the role of the GP remains as vital as ever.

In many cases, general practice is the only consistent touchpoint a patient has with the healthcare system. That puts GPs in a powerful position to lead long-term, integrated care, and this new CDM model is designed to support that mission.

Now is the time to review your current systems, refresh your knowledge, and make the most of these reforms to deliver chronic care with greater clarity and confidence.

Next steps in your learning journey

🎓 Certificate Courses in Chronic Disease & Conditions

Our university-assured, structured pathway to elevate your knowledge in chronic disease management. ➡️ Explore full program >

🎓 Micro-Courses in Chronic Disease & Conditions

Explore short, bite-sized CPD modules in focused topics in chronic disease management. Complete in less than 10 hours! ➡️ Browse Micro-Courses >

🎓 HealthCert 365 subscription

Prefer flexible, all-access learning across many topics? Access 4,000+ CPD hours on-demand with HealthCert 365 — an annual subscription for one flat fee. ➡️ Discover HealthCert 365 >

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