6 April 2020 News - Changes to COVID-19 services

Changes to bulk billing arrangements and 22 new specialist services

Page last updated: 07 April 2020

NEWS - 6 April 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.

From 6 April 2020:

Bulk-billing: Health providers can apply their usual billing practices to telehealth consultations. It is a legislative requirement that the service must be bulk-billed where the service is provided to a concessional or vulnerable patient or a child under 16 at the time the service is provided. For all other patients, the service may be bulk-billed.

Specialists: 22 new MBS items have been introduced for telehealth and telephone services for consultant physicians, geriatricians and consultant psychiatrists. These mirror the existing services for consultant physicians (132 and 133), geriatricians (141 and 143) and consultant psychiatrists (289, 291, 293, 296, 348, 350 and 352).

The XML can be downloaded from the Downloads page.

New Telehealth Items for COVID-19
* means that the telehealth and telephone services commenced on 6 April 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
2729
91818
91842
      FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes
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
371
91820
91844
      FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes
372
91821
91845
SPECIALIST, CONSULTANT PHYSICIAN AND PSYCHIATRIST ATTENDANCES for COVID-19
These services need to be bulk-billed for concessional and vulnerable patients, and are for non-admitted patients
ServiceExisting 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
* 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 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
      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
      PARTICIPATING NURSE PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCES for COVID-19

      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 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 need to be bulk-billed for concessional and vulnerable patients, and 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

      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
      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
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, 82030, 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
      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
      PARTICIPATING MIDWIFE ATTENDANCES for COVID-19

      These services need to be bulk-billed, 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
      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 faceCOVID-19
69485Detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid69479

69480

Public providers: item 69479 (which has an equivalent fee to the above items 69485 and 69476)

Private providers: item 69480 (which has an equivalent fee to the above items 69485 and 69477)


The links to the legislation are below:

Telehealth and Telephone

Bulk-billing Incentive Pathology

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