7 August 2020

From 7 August 2020 until 31 March 2021, an additional 10 individual psychological therapy sessions are available to eligible people under the existing Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS (Better Access) initiative. For more information go to the factsheet on the additional 10 mental health services page.

3 August 2020

Item 69501 which commenced 28 July 2020, is a new temporary MBS item has been made available for bulk-billed pathology testing for asymptomatic staff of residential and in-home aged care service providers in Victoria. As of the 3 August 2020, item 69501 was expanded to apply to workers who are required to travel interstate as a driver of a heavy vehicle. Further information is available on the factsheet for MBS item 69501 page.

The July 20 XML (mbs-xml-200701r2) containing the 28 July 2020 changes can be downloaded from the July downloads page.

The August 20 XML (mbs-xml-200804) containing the 3 August 2020 changes can be downloaded from the August downloads page.

20 July 2020

Reinforcing the Patient-Practitioner Relationship for GP COVID-19 telehealth services

Changes will apply to ensure that patients receive continuous care from a GP that is aware of their medical history and needs. From 20 July, a relationship with the patient will be a prerequisite to access to the GP COVID-19 telehealth services.

This relationship is:

• having seen the practitioner in the last 12 months; or
• having seen a doctor at the same practice during the same period.

This relationship is not required for COVID-19 telehealth services for:

• children aged under 12 months; or
• patients who are homeless; or
• patients residing in areas subject to social restrictions in Victoria (the suburbs identified by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services).

28 May 2020

New XML file available to incorporate pathology items 69476 and 69477 that were available from 13 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 items 69476 and 69477 apply to pathology tests performed in accordance with the service described in item 69485 from 13 March 2020 to 31 March 2020.

To clarify that these items can be claimed for pathology tests performed during those dates, the 17 March 2020 XML (MBS XML 200317) includes these items in the March downloads page.
Further information can be found on the COVID-19 Pathology fact sheet.

Correction to table "ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL for COVID-19 - Dental practitioner (oral and maxillofacial approved), referred consultation"

The table has been corrected to denote that:

• items 54001 and 54003 (rather than 54002) can be claimed for Dental practitioner, initial attendance; and
• items 54002 (rather than 54003) and 54004 can be claimed for Dental practitioner, subsequent attendance.

22 May MBS release

On 29 March 2020, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, announced: Whole of population telehealth for patients, general practice, primary care and other medical services to support the response to COVID-19.

• The complete range of telehealth (video-conference) and phone consultation items are available to all Australians. This is stage 5 of the COVID-19 response.
• Bulk-billing incentives items are available for medical services (items 10990, 10991 and 10992), diagnostic imaging services (items 64990 and 64991) and pathology services (74990 and 74991) for patients who are either under 16 years old, or who are a Commonwealth concessional beneficiary.
• The following bulk-billing incentive items are available where a medical service is provided to a vulnerable patient:
  • item 10981 mirrors the current item 10990 metropolitan
  • item 10982 mirrors the current item 10991 regional

If further changes are made, they will be added to the MBS XML and MBS Online as soon as possible. As details of the new MBS items continue to develop, this page (and associated fact sheets) will be updated.

Telehealth Items for COVID-19 from 22 May 2020

Specialists:

New MBS items have been introduced for telehealth and telephone services for anaesthetists - items 92701 and 92712, which mirror the existing service 17615.

Dental practitioners practising oral and maxillofacial surgery:

New MBS items have been introduced for telehealth and telephone services:

• 54001 and 54002 - these mirror the existing service 51700
• 54003 and 54004 - these mirror the existing service 51703

Allied health - dieticians:

New MBS items have been introduced for telehealth and telephone services:

• 93284 and 93286 - these mirror the existing service 81120
• 93285 - this mirrors the existing service 81125

The May XML can be downloaded from the May 20 downloads page.
* means that the telehealth and telephone services commenced on 22 May 2020

GENERAL PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCES These services need to be bulk-billed for concessional and vulnerable patients, and are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Standard GP Attendance
GP attendance for an obvious problem	3	91790	91795
GP attendance less than 20 minutes	23	91800	91809
GP attendance at least 20 minutes	36	91801	91810
GP attendance at least 40 minutes	44	91802	91811

Health assessment for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
GP health assessment	715	92004	92016

Chronic Disease Management
GP management plan, prepare	721	92024	92068
GP team care arrangement, co-ordinate development	723	92025	92069
GP contribution to prepare or review a multidisciplinary care plan, prepared by another provider	729	92026	92070
GP contribution to prepare or review a multidisciplinary care plan, prepared by a provider when the patient was admitted or by a RACF	731	92027	92071
GP attendance to coordinate a GP management plan or team care arrangements	732	92028	92072

Autism Management
GP early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability	139	92142	92145

Pregnancy Support
GP pregnancy support item, more than 20 minutes	4001	92136	92138

Eating Disorder Management
GP without mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, 20 to 40 minutes	90250	92146	92154
GP without mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, more than 40 minutes	90251	92147	92155
GP with mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, 20 to 40 minutes	90252	92148	92156
GP with mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, more than 40 minutes	90253	92149	92157
GP to review an eating disorder plan	90264	92170	92176
GP eating disorder FPS treatment, 30 to 40 minutes	90271	92182	92194
GP eating disorder FPS treatment, more than 40 minutes	90273	92184	92196

Mental Health
General Practitioners (credentialed with CEM)
GP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes	2700	92112	92124
GP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes	2701	92113	92125
GP to review a mental health plan	2712	92114	92126
GP mental health consult, more than 20 minutes	2713	92115	92127
GP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes	2715	92116	92128
GP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes	2717	92117	92129
FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes	2721, 2729	91818	91842
FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes	2725, 2731	91819	91843

Urgent After Hours
GP urgent after hours, unsociable	599	92210	92216

OTHER MEDICAL PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCES These services need to be bulk-billed for concessional and vulnerable patients, and are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Attendance of not more than 5 minutes	52	91792	91797
Attendance of more than 5 minutes but not more than 25 minutes	53	91803	91812
Attendance of more than 25 minutes but not more than 45 minutes	54	91804	91813
Attendance of more than 45 minutes	57	91805	91814
Attendance of not more than 5 minutes	179	91794	91799
Attendance of more than 5 minutes but not more than 25 minutes. Modified Monash 2-7 area	185	91806	91815
Attendance of more than 25 minutes but not more than 45 minutes. Modified Monash 2-7 area	189	91807	91816
Attendance of more than 45 minutes. Modified Monash 2-7 area	203	91808	91817

Health assessment for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
OMP health assessment	228	92011	92023

Chronic Disease Management
OMP management plan, prepare	229	92055	92099
OMP team care arrangement, coordinate development	230	92056	92100
OMP contribution to prepare or review a multidisciplinary care plan, prepared by another provider	231	92057	92101
OMP contribution to prepare or review a multidisciplinary care plan, prepared by a provider when the patient was admitted or by a RACF	232	92058	92102
OMP attendance to coordinate a GP management plan or team care arrangements	233	92059	92103

Pregnancy support
OMP pregnancy support item, more than 20 minutes	792	92137	92139

Eating Disorder Management
OMP without mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, 20 to 40 minutes	90254	92150	92158
OMP without mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, more than 40 minutes	90255	92151	92159
OMP with mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, 20 to 40 minutes	90256	92152	92160
OMP with mental health training, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, at least 40 minutes	90257	92153	92161
OMP to review an eating disorder plan	90265	92171	92177
OMP eating disorder FPS treatment, 30 to 40 minutes	90275	92186	92198
OMP eating disorder FPS treatment, more than 40 minutes	90277	92188	92200

Urgent after hours
OMP urgent after hours, unsociable	600	92211	92217

Mental Health
OMP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes	272	92118	92130
OMP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes	276	92119	92131
OMP to review a mental health plan	277	92120	92132
OMP mental health consult, more than 20 minutes	279	92121	92133
OMP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes	281	92122	92134
OMP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes	282	92123	92135
FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes	283, 371	91820	91844
FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes	286, 372	91821	91845

SPECIALIST, CONSULTANT PHYSICIAN AND PSYCHIATRIST ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Specialist. Initial attendance	104	91822	91832
Specialist. Subsequent attendance	105	91823	91833

Consultant Physician
Consultant physician. Initial attendance	110	91824	91834
Consultant physician. Subsequent attendance	116	91825	91835
Consultant physician. Minor attendance	119	91826	91836
Consultant physician. Treatment and management plan - Initial assessment – at least 2 morbidities - at least 45 minutes duration	132	92422	92431
Consultant physician. Treatment and management plan - Review – at least 2 morbidities - at least 20 minutes duration	133	92423	92432

Specialist or consultant physician
Specialist or consultant physician early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability	137	92141	92144

Paediatrics
Paediatrics early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability	135	92140	92143
Paediatrician, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, more than 45 minutes	90261	92163	92167
Paediatrician, to review an eating disorder plan, more than 20 minutes	90267	92173	92179

Consultant psychiatrist
Consultant psychiatrist attendance, more than 45 minutes, to develop a treatment and management plan for a patient under 13 years with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder	289	92434	92474
Consultant psychiatrist diagnosis and assessment and management plan - at least 45 minutes in duration	291	92435	92475
Consultant psychiatrist diagnosis and assessment and management plan - 30 to 45 minutes	293	92436	92476
Consultant psychiatrist attendance, more than 45 minutes, new patient (or 2 years between last service for existing patient)	296	92437	92477
Group psychotherapy of not less than 1 hour (2-9 unrelated patients or a family group of more than 3 patients)	342	92455	92495
Group psychotherapy of not less than 1 hour (family group of 3 patients)	344	92456	92496
Group psychotherapy of not less than 1 hour (family group of 2 patients)	346	92457	92497
Consultant psychiatrist attendance, interviewing a person other than a patient, 20 to 45 minutes, initial diagnosis	348	92458	92498
Consultant psychiatrist attendance, interviewing a person other than a patient, more than 45 minutes, initial diagnosis	350	92459	92499
Consultant psychiatrist attendance, interviewing a person other than a patient, more than 20 minutes, continuing management	352	92460	92500
Consultant psychiatrist. Consultation, not more than 15 minutes, fewer than 50 attendances	300	91827	91837
Consultant psychiatrist. Consultation, 15 to 30 minutes, fewer than 50 attendances	302	91828	91838
Consultant psychiatrist. Consultation, 30 to 45 minutes, fewer than 50 attendances	304	91829	91839
Consultant psychiatrist. Consultation, 45 to 75 minutes, fewer than 50 attendances	306	91830	91840
Consultant psychiatrist. Consultation, more than 75 minutes, fewer than 50 attendances	308	91831	91841
Consultant psychiatrist, prepare an eating disorder treatment and management plan, more than 45 minutes	90260	92162	92166
Consultant psychiatrist, to review an eating disorder plan, more than 30 minutes	90266	92172	92178

Geriatric Medicine
Geriatric Medicine Comprehensive assessment and development of a management plan – patient 65 years or older - 60 minutes duration or more	141	92623	92628
Geriatric Medicine Subsequent attendance to review/revise the initial management plan as necessary – patient 65 years or older - 30 minutes duration or more	143	92624	92629

OBSTETRICIANS, GPs, MIDWIVES, NURSES OR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HEALTH PRACTITIONERS ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Antenatal Service provided by a Nurse, Midwife or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of, and under the supervision of, a medical practitioner	16400	91850	91855
Postnatal attendance by an obstetrician or GP	16407	91851	91856
Postnatal attendance by: (i) a midwife (on behalf of and under the supervision of the medical practitioner who attended the birth); or (ii) an obstetrician; or (iii) a general practitioner	16408	91852	91857
Antenatal attendance	16500	91853	91858

PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIAN ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Public health physician, Level A, simple and straightforward	410	92513	92521
Public health physician, Level B, less than 20 minutes	411	92514	92522
Public health physician, Level C, lasting at least 20 minutes	412	92515	92523
Public health physician, Level D, lasting at least 40 minutes	413	92516	92524

NEUROSURGERY ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Neurosurgeon, initial attendance	6007	92610	92617
Neurosurgeon, minor attendance	6009	92611	92618
Neurosurgeon, subsequent attendance, 15 - 30 minutes	6011	92612	92619
Neurosurgeon, subsequent attendance, 30 - 45 minutes	6013	92613	92620
Neurosurgeon, subsequent attendance, more than 45 minutes	6015	92614	92621

ANAESTHESIA ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
*Anaesthetist, professional attendance, advanced or complex	17615	92701	92712

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL for COVID-19 Dental practitioner (oral and maxillofacial approved), referred consultation These services are for non-admitted patients
	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
*Dental practitioner, initial attendance	51700	54001	54003
*Dental practitioner, subsequent attendance	51703	54002	54004

PARTICIPATING NURSE PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Attendance for an obvious problem	82200	91192	91193
Attendance less than 20 minutes	82205	91178	91189
Attendance at least 20 minutes	82210	91179	91190
Attendance at least 40 minutes	82215	91180	91191

MENTAL HEALTH ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 These services are for non-admitted patients GP mental health attendances and OMP mental health attendances are included under the GP and OMP tables above
Service	Existing Items current video-conference items Current geographic restrictions apply	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference Geographic restrictions do not apply	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available Geographic restrictions do not apply
Clinical Psychologists
Attendance lasting more than 30 minutes but less than 50 minutes	80001	91166	91181
Attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	80011	91167	91182
Psychologists
Attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	80101	91169	91183
Attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	80111	91170	91184
Occupational Therapists
Attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	80126	91172	91185
Attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	80136	91173	91186
Social Workers
Attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	80151	91175	91187
Attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	80161	91176	91188

ALLIED HEALTH ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 The telehealth and telephone items can be used by the same range of allied health providers that can access the existing items (as set out in the fact sheet) These services are for non-admitted patients
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Chronic disease management
Allied Health CDM services (all 13 items)	10950, 10951, 10952, 10953, 10954, 10956, 10958, 10960, 10962, 10964, 10966, 10968, 10970	93000	93013

Pregnancy support
Pregnancy support counselling, eligible psychologist, at least 30 minutes	81000	93026	93029

Autism management
Psychology, early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 13 years	82000	93032	93040
Speech pathology or Occupational therapy, early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 13 years	82005, 82010, 82030	93033	93041
Psychology, early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 15 years	82015	93035	93043
Speech pathology, Occupational therapy, Audiology, Optometry, Orthoptic or Physiotherapy early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 15 years	82020, 82025, 82035	93036	93044

Follow-up Allied Health Services for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
Allied Follow-up CDM services (all 13 items)	81300, 81305, 81310, 81315, 81320, 81325, 81330, 81335, 81340, 81345, 81350, 81355, 81360	93048	93061

ATTENDANCES for COVID-19 Services Provided By A Practice Nurse Or Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner On Behalf Of A Medical Practitioner These services are for non-admitted patients
	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Follow up service for an Indigenous person who has received a health assessment	10987	93200	93202
Service provided to a person with a chronic disease	10997	93201	93203

Eating Disorder Management
Dietetics, eating disorders service, at least 20 minutes	82350	93074	93108
Clinical psychologist, eating disorders service, 30 to 50 minutes	82352	93076	93110
Clinical psychologist, eating disorders service, at least 50 minutes	82355	93079	93113
Psychologist, eating disorders service, 20 to 50 minutes	82360	93084	93118
Psychologist, eating disorders service, at least 50 minutes	82363	93087	93121
Occupational therapist, eating disorders service, 20 to 50 minutes	82368	93092	93126
Occupational therapist, eating disorders service, at least 50 minutes	82371	93095	93129
Social worker, eating disorders service, 20 to 50 minutes	82376	93100	93134
Social worker, eating disorders service, at least 50 minutes	82379	93103	93137

Allied health, group dietetics These services are for non-admitted patients
	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
*Dietitian, eligible, assessment for a group service	81120	93284	93286
*Dietitian, eligible, group service	81125	93285	n/a

PARTICIPATING MIDWIFE ATTENDANCES for COVID-19
Service	Existing Items face to face	COVID-19 Telehealth items video-conference	COVID-19 Telephone items – for when video-conferencing is not available
Short antenatal attendance lasting up to 40 minutes	82105	91211	91218
Long antenatal attendance lasting at least 40 minutes	82110	91212	91219
Short postnatal attendance lasting up to 40 minutes	82130	91214	91221
Long postnatal attendance lasting at least 40 minutes	82135	91215	91222

PATHOLOGY Items 69479 and 69480 need to be bulk-billed
Existing Items face to face		COVID-19
69485	Detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid	69479 69480	Public providers: item 69479 (which has an equivalent fee to items 69485 and 69476) Private providers: item 69480 (which has an equivalent fee to items 69485 and 69477)

PATHOLOGY Item 69501 needs to be bulk-billed
		COVID-19
		69501	Rapid COVID-19 screening test for aged care workers and workers who are required to travel interstate as a driver of a heavy vehicle (item 69501) , performed by the private pathology sector is conditional on the results of the test being provided to the aged care worker and workers who are required to travel interstate as a driver of a heavy vehicle and the Victorian public health unit within 24 hours of delivery of the pathology specimen to an accredited pathology laboratory. The service must be bulk-billed.

The links to the legislation are below:

Telehealth and Telephone

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services - COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00342

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Amendment (Bulk-billing Requirement and New Remote Attendance Services) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00442

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Amendment (Expansion of Specialist Services) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00405

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Amendment (Bulk-billing) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00404

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services - COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Amendment (Further Expansion of Remote Attendance Items) Determination 2020 https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00593

Bulk-billing Incentive

Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Bulk-billing Incentive) Regulations 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00341

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Additional GP Bulk-billing Incentives) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00441

Pathology

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID-19) Amendment (No. 2) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00373

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID-19) Amendment (No. 3) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00592

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID-19) Amendment (No. 4) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00954

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID-19) Amendment (No. 5) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00981