Medicare funded · Case conferencing
Book a Case Conference
Book a GP-led online case conference with our clinical team. Everyone works together to support and improve the care of chronic disease patients.
One patient
A focused 40-minute video conference on a single patient with complex chronic-disease needs.
GP-led
The GP coordinates the conference and experiences firsthand the benefit of a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to care.
Mixed team
The GP's care of the patient is supported by our local clinical team: physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist, exercise physiologist and psychologist.
The patient does not need to be present at the conference — but their consent is required.
Booking takes two minutes
Chronic disease patients managed by a coordinated multidisciplinary team see measurably better results — clearer care goals, fewer gaps, and less chance of conditions compounding over time. Choose a time, provide the practice and GP details, and a confirmation email is sent straight away.
Bookings need at least two weeks' notice so the clinical team can be convened.
Best times: first thing in the morning, or straight after lunch.
Choosing the patient
Five minutes of preparation ensures the conference runs smoothly. Here's what to do after making a booking.
-
Identify a complex patient
The strongest candidates live with one or more common chronic conditions:
- Chronic pain
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD)
- Arthritis & musculoskeletal conditions
- Metabolic disorders & obesity
- Chronic kidney disease
- Osteoporosis
- Frailty & falls in older patients
Any patient with a chronic disease is eligible. Choose a physical presentation — a primarily mental-health presentation is better served by other care pathways than this conference's team.
-
Pick someone being seen soon
Choose a chronic disease patient with an appointment in the next week or two. The situation being discussed is then current, accurate and clinically relevant — and the team's advice feeds straight into the patient's next consultation — driving a pathway to proactive, multidisciplinary care.
-
Obtain the patient's consent
Ask the patient if they are comfortable with advice being sought from a multidisciplinary team about their care — that conversation is the consent the conference needs, so add a brief note to the patient's record that they've agreed. The patient doesn't attend the discussion itself.
Notes from the case conference are made available for upload to your clinical package after the conference.
-
Have billing details ready
The patient's date of birth and mobile number are entered on entry to the conference, so make sure you have them to hand. We take care of the bulk-billing consent from there — with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
Patient consent
Three consents apply to case conferencing. The platform assists with each — including SMS consent flows — and maintains a record for compliance.
Enduring consent
Ongoing consent for the patient's care to be coordinated through case conferencing. Recorded once, it remains in place unless withdrawn.
Conference consent
Agreement for the patient's care to be discussed at a specific conference. The patient does not need to attend — their consent is obtained prior to the discussion.
Bulk-billing consent
The Medicare assignment-of-benefit consent that allows the conference item to be bulk-billed, with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in the conference?
The GP presents the patient and leads the discussion, consulting the clinical team on the areas where their input will make a difference. Each clinician contributes their perspective in real time — assessment, recommendations and next steps for their part of the patient's care. Everyone documents as they go: treatment goals and recommendations are captured in a single collaborative record, finalised after the conference and ready for upload to the patient's file. Our clinician-led support team is on hand throughout — guiding where helpful and making sure everything runs smoothly.
Who attends?
The GP, the practice manager if you'd like, our allied health clinical team, and a member of our support staff. Final attendance is always the GP's decision — a Medicare requirement for case conferences.
Does it cost anything?
No — there is no charge and no ongoing commitment, and payment details are never requested. Conference.care does not take any share of Medicare billings.
What technology do we need?
A browser with a camera and microphone — that's it. Nothing to install, no accounts to set up beforehand. The confirmation email carries a secure joining link for the GP.
What item numbers can be claimed?
The coordinating GP claims MBS item 743 ($241.25) for organising a case conference of 40 minutes or more. Participating allied health clinicians claim their own item (10959), and specialists bill theirs separately — the platform prompts the correct item numbers from the recorded duration. Each patient can have up to four case conferences per year, and case conferencing is rebated at higher rates than standard consults. The practice bills Medicare directly; Conference.care never takes a share.
Which patients are eligible?
Any patient with a chronic disease qualifies. Commonly conferenced conditions include diabetes, chronic pain, cardiorespiratory disease, geriatric care, stroke recovery and palliative care — see choosing the patient for what works best in this conference.
What does the practice need to do?
Three things: choose the patient and a time, have the consent conversation with the patient, and the GP joins the call. The platform makes the rest easy — connecting the allied health team, scheduling, consent records and Medicare-compliant documentation, with a conference summary provided for upload to the patient record.
Do the clinicians need to have seen the patient before?
No. The conference is where the multidisciplinary team comes together — each participant contributes a different kind of care or service to the patient's plan, and may go on to see the patient afterwards where the GP recommends it. No prior consultation with the patient is required.
What happens after we book?
You'll get a confirmation email straight away with the details, your booking reference and the clinical team — so you can have the right patient in mind. Reminders follow the day before and shortly before the conference, and the joining link is emailed one hour before it begins. The GP receives these as well.
What happens afterwards?
The clinical team's notes are finalised and made available for upload into the patient's file in your clinical package — a complete record of the conference and each clinician's contribution. The practice account also remains in place, so the GP can coordinate their next case conference whenever they're ready.
Guides & documents
Short, practical references for your practice.
Ready when you are
Book online in two minutes, or talk it through with our clinician-led team — we can help choose the patient and the time.
Or call 02 9173 8555 during business hours (AEST).