Helix Updates

The July, 2021 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) file is available to download below. The file includes key Covid item numbers 10660, 10661, 90005, two new MBS items, 92746 and 92747 – as well as the lastest changes from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

From 16 July 2021, the Government is implementing longer general practice telephone services to provide an increased Medicare benefit for patients who are located in an area declared as a COVID-19 hotspot by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer or are subject to a public health order that requires the person to be in isolation or quarantine. The list of hotspots declared by the Chief Medical Officer is currently available on health.gov.au.

The two new MBS items, 92746 for GPs and 92747 for other medical practitioners (OMPs), enable medical practitioners to provide longer telephone consultations, lasting 20 minutes or more to people who are in a Commonwealth declared COVID-19 hotspot or required to isolate or quarantine because of a COVID-19 State or Territory public health order. Read the full details on the MBS website.

The changes include indexation of majority of Medicare services, Government’s response to recommendations from the clinician-led MBS Review Taskforce regarding general surgery, orthopaedic and cardiac services, and include other minor policy changes which were recommended by the clinician-led MBS Review Taskforce or the Medicare Benefits Schedule Committee. Read the full details on the MBS website.

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For information on how to add these fees to your fee schedule please navigate to the Adding fees manually section and read this article.