Implementation of MBS Review Taskforce final report - Paediatric Surgery MBS Items

The Australian Government, in the 2022-23 Budget has agreed to implement changes to paediatric surgery services, in response to the MBS Review Taskforce final report – Paediatric Surgery MBS items.

Access the Budget factsheet: New and amended Medicare Benefits Schedule Listings on the Department of Health website.

The changes will include:

• 2 new items for circumcision revision procedures (minor and complex); 
• Increasing the Medicare rebate for 3 items (44108, 44111 and 44114) for the repair of inguinal hernias in children less than 12 months of age to reflect the complexity of these procedures; and
• Amendments to 2 items for the repair of obstructed or strangulated hernia (44111) and the repair of cloacal exstrophy (43882) to restrict these to in-hospital services only because of their complexity.

These changes are scheduled to commence on 1 November 2022, subject to the approval of regulations over the coming months.

Further consultation with stakeholders will take place before the implementation of these changes.

For further information please direct your enquiries by email directly to the Surgical Services Team at the Department of Health.