Occupational therapy can make everyday life safer and easier , but a common first question is simple: do I have to pay for it, or can I get it bulk billed? The short answer is that occupational therapy can be bulk billed through Medicare for eligible people, usually when your GP sets up a care plan. At Youcentric Care Group, we bulk bill eligible clients who come to us with a valid GP care plan referral, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for those sessions.
Here is how it works, who it is for, and how to get started.
Is occupational therapy bulk billed?
It can be. Occupational therapy is not automatically free, but Medicare will help cover a set number of OT sessions each year if your GP decides you would benefit and puts a care plan in place. When a provider “bulk bills”, they accept the Medicare benefit as full payment , so you pay nothing out of pocket for that visit.
We bulk bill eligible Youcentric clients who have a valid GP care plan referral for occupational therapy.
What does “bulk billing” actually mean?
Bulk billing simply means your OT bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare amount as the full fee. You are not charged a gap, so the appointment is free to you.
This is different from paying privately (where you cover the full fee yourself) or using NDIS funding (which is a separate system — more on that below).
How Medicare covers OT: the GP care plan
To access subsidised occupational therapy through Medicare, you generally need a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. This is the care plan that, from 1 July 2025, replaced the older GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements.
Here is what to know:
- Your GP decides. Your doctor decides whether you have a chronic (ongoing) condition that would benefit from allied health support like OT, and whether a plan is right for you.
- Up to 5 visits per calendar year. With a plan and referral, you can access up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health services per calendar year.
- The 5 visits are shared across all allied health. They are not 5 OT visits plus 5 physio visits. For example, you might use all 5 on occupational therapy, or split them between OT, physiotherapy and podiatry.
- You choose your provider. A referral does not have to name a specific clinic , you can bring it to any occupational therapist of your choice, including Youcentric.
- Each session and a report. Each service runs for at least 20 minutes, and your OT sends a short report back to your GP after the first and last session.
If you already had an older GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement before 1 July 2025, you can usually keep using it until 30 June 2027.
Who is eligible for bulk-billed OT through Medicare?
Medicare-subsidised OT through a care plan is for people with a chronic or ongoing health condition whose GP believes allied health support will help. Eligibility is always your GP’s decision, based on your individual situation.
It is worth knowing the limits up front:
- It covers up to 5 allied health sessions per year in total, not unlimited therapy.
- It is designed for chronic condition management, not every situation.
- If you need more sessions or ongoing support, other funding options (such as NDIS or private) may be more suitable.
We will always be upfront about what your plan covers and what it does not.
How to get a bulk-billed OT appointment: step by step
- Talk to your GP about your everyday difficulties , things like managing at home, mobility, daily tasks, fatigue, or recovery.
- Ask about a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan and whether occupational therapy is appropriate for you.
- Get a referral from your GP for occupational therapy.
- Bring the referral to Youcentric , we will book your assessment and bulk bill the eligible sessions, so there is nothing to pay.
If you are not sure whether you qualify, get in touch and we can help you understand your options before you see your GP.
What if I am on the NDIS, aged care or paying privately?
Bulk billing applies to the Medicare care-plan pathway above. If you are funded another way, OT still works , it is just paid for differently:
- NDIS: Occupational therapy is funded through your NDIS plan, not bulk billed. This often covers assessments and reports such as a functional capacity assessment or assistive technology evidence.
- Aged care: Support may be available through aged care programs , see what an aged care OT assessment involves.
- Private: You can also see us privately without a referral.
Not sure which path fits you? We are happy to point you in the right direction.
How Youcentric Care Group can help
We are an occupational therapy practice based in Liverpool, supporting people across Western Sydney. For clients with a valid GP care plan referral, we bulk bill eligible occupational therapy sessions — so there is no out-of-pocket cost for those visits.
We can help with practical, everyday goals, including:
- Staying safe and independent at home, including falls prevention
- Managing daily tasks, energy and routines
- Mental health occupational therapy support
- Recommendations for equipment and simple home changes
For GPs and support coordinators
If you are referring a patient or participant for bulk-billed OT under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, we make it straightforward:
- We accept GP care plan referrals for occupational therapy (the referral does not need to name us).
- We bulk bill eligible sessions, so there is no cost to the patient.
- We provide the required written report back to the referring GP after the first and last session.
Need bulk-billed OT in Western Sydney?
If you have a chronic condition and want to know whether you can get occupational therapy at no cost, we can help. Ask your GP about a care plan referral, then bring it to us , or contact Youcentric Care Group to talk through your options first.