Doctors and allied health for your CTP claim

Why the right doctor matters

In a NSW CTP claim, your doctor completes a Certificate of Fitness. It records your injuries, your planned treatment and how your injuries affect your usual activities and work, whether or not you were working at the time of the accident.

Many decisions in a claim rest on medical evidence, such as whether your injury is a threshold injury and what treatment is approved. The insurer decides, based on a medical diagnosis. A clear diagnosis, a written treatment plan and certificates kept up to date help the insurer understand your injuries.

The insurer can suspend weekly payments if you don't give it a current certificate, so keep an eye on the dates on yours.

Your own GP, or a doctor experienced with CTP claims

You choose your doctor. Many people see their usual GP, and that's fine.

Some doctors see a lot of CTP claims. They know the Certificate of Fitness and how treatment requests to the insurer work, which can make the paperwork smoother. It doesn't change the scheme rules or what the insurer decides.

Whoever you see, tell them the injury happened in a motor accident, mention every symptom, including ones that started later, and ask for a Certificate of Fitness.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is often part of treatment for sprains, strains and whiplash. Your GP can refer you.

The insurer generally pays for treatment once it approves a request for it. It must decide a request to pay for treatment or care as soon as possible and within 10 business days, so ask your physiotherapist whether a request has gone to the insurer.

Psychology and counselling

Anxiety, poor sleep, low mood or a fear of driving can follow a crash. Psychological injuries are part of the CTP scheme too.

Your GP can talk with you about how you're going and refer you to a psychologist or counsellor if that's the right treatment for you.

If you're struggling right now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, any time. In an emergency, call 000.

Exercise physiology

An exercise physiologist plans supervised exercise aimed at building strength and getting back to your usual activities. It's often part of a treatment plan later in recovery.

Other allied health

Depending on your injuries, your treatment plan may include other allied health, such as occupational therapy or rehabilitation to help you back to work. The insurer decides whether each one is reasonable and necessary for your accident injuries.

How treatment is generally funded

The CTP insurer generally pays for treatment that is reasonable and necessary for your accident injuries. It decides what's approved, and its decisions can be reviewed.

For accidents on or after 1 April 2023, people with a threshold injury can receive statutory benefits, including treatment and care, for up to 52 weeks after the accident.

If you were wholly or mostly at fault, your statutory benefits generally stop after 52 weeks. Children who were 16 or under at the time of the accident can receive treatment and care for as long as they need it, regardless of fault.

If the insurer refuses a treatment request, you can generally ask for an internal review within 28 days of receiving the decision.

If you have a CTP claim, the CTP insurer, not Medicare, should generally pay for your accident-related treatment, so give your providers the insurer's name and your claim number. See treatment and care.

Rules change. This page reflects the rules as we understand them in September 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Treatment before you lodge

Once you've told the insurer about your injury, it can approve some treatment before you lodge a full claim, usually a GP visit and two further treatment sessions such as physiotherapy. This is at the insurer's discretion and only within the first 28 days after the crash. For more treatment you need to lodge a claim.

Ambulance and much of your public hospital treatment (such as accommodation, X-rays, blood tests and nursing) are covered by the Fund levy paid through CTP insurance, whether or not you make a claim or were at fault. Some public hospital doctors' bills aren't covered. If you make a CTP claim, send those bills to the insurer.

What to bring to your appointment

• The date of the accident and a short note of what happened
• A list of every symptom, including ones that started later
• Your claim number and the insurer's name, if you've lodged
• Any hospital discharge summary, scans or reports you have
• Receipts for treatment and medication
• Your current Certificate of Fitness, if you have one

Telehealth

Some doctors and allied health providers offer appointments by phone or video. They can suit follow-up appointments, especially if travel is hard. An in-person examination may still be needed, so ask the provider whether telehealth suits your appointment.

How our referral works

We're not a medical practice, and we don't give medical advice or treatment.

If you'd like help finding a doctor experienced with CTP claims, or allied health, tell us. We'll talk through your options, and you choose. You can keep your own GP and treating team at any time.

Before we pass on anything, we ask whether you agree to us sending your name, phone number and a short summary of your accident and injuries to that provider, and we confirm it with you by email or SMS. Nothing is sent until you agree.

The provider explains how its treatment is funded before you start.