The short answer
On this page
Can I see a podiatrist without a referral?
Yes. You don't need a referral from a doctor to see a podiatrist [1]. You can book directly and pay the podiatrist's fee. If you have private health extras, check whether your policy covers podiatry, and ask the practice about likely costs when you book [1].
Podiatrists look after the feet and lower limbs. Common reasons people see one include ingrown toenails, warts and skin problems, heel and arch pain, balance problems and sprains, and foot problems linked to conditions like diabetes and arthritis [1].
When do you need a referral for a podiatrist?
| Your situation | Referral needed? |
|---|---|
| Paying privately | No [1] |
| Claiming through private health extras | Check your policy's rules |
| Medicare rebate | Yes, a GP chronic condition management plan and a referral [2][3] |
| DVA-funded treatment | Generally yes, a GP referral [6] |
How do I get a Medicare rebate for podiatry?
Medicare rebates for podiatry outside hospital come through chronic condition management. Since 1 July 2025, the old GP management plans and team care arrangements have been replaced by a single GP chronic condition management plan, or GPCCMP [2].
To claim:
- You need a chronic condition and complex care needs that your GP is managing under a plan, and the plan has to recommend podiatry [4].
- Your plan must be current, meaning prepared or reviewed in the last 18 months [2].
- You get up to 5 allied health visits per calendar year, or 10 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [2]. The 5 are shared across allied health types, so if you also see a physio or dietitian under your plan, those visits come out of the same 5 [4].
- Each visit must run at least 20 minutes [4].
If you have diabetes and regular foot care needs, it's worth talking with your GP about how to use your 5 visits across the year.
Who can write the plan?
If you're registered with a practice through MyMedicare, you must get chronic condition management services through that practice. If you're not registered, they come from your usual medical practitioner [2]. Plans can be prepared by video or phone, but the same rule applies [2].
So in practice, the plan needs to come from the GP you usually see, not a GP you see once.
What the referral looks like
Since 1 July 2025, allied health referrals under these plans are letters, not forms [3]. The referral:
- must be in writing, signed (an electronic signature is fine), dated, and explain why you're being referred [3]
- doesn't need to name a particular podiatrist, so you can choose your own [3]
- doesn't need to say how many visits, though your GP can specify a number [3]
- lasts 18 months from your first visit unless your GP writes a different period, and can't be indefinite [3]
If you had an older GP management plan or team care arrangement in place before 1 July 2025, you can keep using allied health services under it until 30 June 2027. Referrals written before 1 July 2025 stay valid until the services on them are used up [5].
How much does a podiatrist cost with a Medicare rebate?
For a standard podiatry visit under a chronic condition plan (item 10962), the Medicare schedule fee is $74.55 and the Medicare benefit is $63.40, as listed on MBS Online in November 2026 [4].
Podiatrists set their own fees, so you pay the gap between the fee and the rebate unless they bulk bill. Ask when you book.
Do DVA clients need a referral for a podiatrist?
Generally yes. DVA allied health services, including podiatry, run on a treatment cycle that starts with a GP referral. Each referral covers up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever ends first. At the end of the cycle, the podiatrist reports to your GP, who decides whether another referral is needed [6].
You can have separate cycles running at the same time for different services, such as podiatry and physiotherapy [6].
How do I check a podiatrist is registered?
Podiatry is a registered health profession in Australia. You can look up any podiatrist on Ahpra's register of practitioners, which shows whether they're registered and any conditions on their practice [7].
Getting a referral
Referral GP offers telehealth consultations by phone or video with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs. A GP can talk through your foot problem and, where it's clinically appropriate, write a referral letter for a podiatrist or request imaging such as an X-ray. For a Medicare-rebated referral under a chronic condition management plan, you'll generally need your MyMedicare practice or usual GP.
A consultation doesn't guarantee a referral. Your GP decides what's clinically appropriate.
Bulk billed for eligible patients. If you're not eligible, a consultation fee may apply, and we'll confirm it with you before your consult.
See also the guides for physiotherapists, dietitians and how long a referral lasts. When you're ready, request an allied health consult.
This page is general information, not medical advice.
Common questions
Can I see a podiatrist without a referral?
Yes. You don't need a referral from a doctor to see a podiatrist privately [1]. A referral only matters if you want a Medicare rebate or DVA-funded treatment.
Does Medicare cover podiatry for diabetes?
How long does a podiatry referral last?
How much is the Medicare rebate for a podiatrist?
For a standard podiatry visit under a chronic condition plan (item 10962), the schedule fee is $74.55 and the Medicare benefit is $63.40, as listed on MBS Online in November 2026 [4]. You pay any difference between that and the podiatrist's fee.
Can a telehealth GP refer me to a podiatrist?
A GP can write a referral letter after a telehealth consult if it's clinically appropriate. For a Medicare rebate, though, the chronic condition plan has to come from your MyMedicare practice or your usual GP [2].
References
- healthdirect. Podiatrist. Last reviewed October 2023. Accessed November 2026. healthdirect.gov.au/podiatrist
- MBS Online. Explanatory note AN.15.3: Overview of MBS items to support the management of chronic conditions in general practice. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.15.3&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note AN.15.6: Referral requirements for allied health and other primary health care services. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.15.6&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Item 10962: Podiatry health service (chronic condition management). Schedule fee updated 1 July 2026. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=10962&qt=item
- MBS Online. Explanatory note AN.15.5: GP chronic condition management plans, transition arrangements. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.15.5&qt=noteID
- Department of Veterans' Affairs. Allied health treatment cycle. Accessed November 2026. dva.gov.au/get-support/health-support/health-services/allied-health-tr
- Ahpra. Registers of practitioners. Accessed November 2026. ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx
Published by Referral GP. Last updated 6 November 2026. This page is general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation. If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.