General practice and the management of chronic conditions--where to now?

Background: As of 1 July 2005, the Medicare Benefits Schedule includes additional chronic disease management (CDM) item numbers offering general practitioners more options for managing patients with chronic conditions, including those requiring multidisciplinary care. The new item numbers are not a substitute for normal medical care but expand the possibilities for GPs and their patients.

Objective: This article provides a practical overview of the use of the CDM item numbers.