Omicron Specialist Telehealth MBS Item Changes
On 16 January, The Australian Government announced, in response to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, an additional $24 million investment to introduce critical changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to support their continued response to COVID-19. This is in addition to the Government’s $106 million commitment to make an expanded range of MBS telehealth services – initially introduced in response to COVID-19 – permanent.
For specialists the Government will temporarily reinstate until 30 June 2022:
- 40 specialist inpatient telehealth MBS items (video and phone) and
- 33 initial and complex specialist telephone consultation items.
This temporary measure will enable specialist medical practitioners to provide telehealth consultations to hospital in-patients when their doctor cannot attend the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions and further support access to specialists for people in the community who need care during the COVID pandemic.
Access the list of items that will be temporarily be reinstated to 30 June 2022.
For more information please email Medical Specialist Services at the Department of Health.