Medicare Safety Net Arrangements
This fact sheet provides information on the Original Medicare Safety Net and the Extended Medicare Safety Net.
Extended Medicare Safety Net – 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2014
This fact sheet has been updated to reflect the Extended Medicare Safety Net benefit cap amounts for 2013 and 2014.
EMSN caps on Allied Health (including Psychology) consultations from 1 November 2012
This fact sheet provides information on the EMSN benefit caps from 1 November 2012 announced in the 2012-13 Budget for all Allied Health (including Psychology) consultation items.
EMSN caps on Psychiatry consultations from 1 November 2012
This fact sheet provides information on the EMSN benefit caps from 1 November 2012 announced in the 2012-13 Budget for all Psychiatry consultation items.
EMSN caps on specialist (including consultant physician) consultations from 1 November 2012
This fact sheet provides information on the EMSN benefit caps from 1 November 2012 announced in the 2012-13 Budget for all specialist (including consultant physician) consultation items.
EMSN caps on GP consultations from 1 November 2012
This fact sheet provides information on the EMSN benefit caps from 1 November 2012 announced in the 2012-13 Budget for all GP consultation items.
MBS items that have an Extended Medicare Safety Net cap from 1 November 2012
This fact sheet shows the MBS items that have Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) benefit caps from 1 November 2012.
Current EMSN caps on ART and Obstetrics
The EMSN caps for ART and Obstetrics items did not change on 1 November 2012.
Summary of the changes to the Extended Medicare Safety Net - 1 November 2012
This summary of changes has been provided to reflect the 2012-13 Budget decision that Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) benefit caps have been introduced for additional items from 1 November 2012.
Changes to the Definition of Therapeutic Substance
03 March
Recent amendments to Cataract Surgery items
01 February
Changes to Medicare Primary Care items
21 December
Recent amendments to Cataract Surgery items
04 December
Minister Roxon issues Media Release stating Support for Cataract Patients - 26 November 2009
27 November
1 January 2010 Medicare Safety Net Thresholds
11 November
Thresholds for the Medicare Safety Nets increase on1 January 2010
New Items for Cataract Surgery - 1 November 2009
30 October
Changes to the Extended Medicare Safety Net
08 September
A new fact sheet on changes to the Extended Medicare Safety Net has been issued.
Changes to the cataract and coronary angiography items, and the removal of items 50124 and 50125
14 July
Information on changes to these items as announced in the 2009-10 Budget
The July 2009 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available
16 June
The May 2009 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available
16 April
Below is a summary of changes that have occured to the MBS since November 2008.
Top 10 most popular MBS reports generated by MBS Onlines Create Publication generator
01 November
Plus, instructions on how to use the Create Publications generator
Varicose veins - Minor amendments to MBS and Health Regulations
05 March
Minor amendments for 1 May 2009
Medicare Rebates for Capsule Endoscopy for Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and Artificial Bowel Sphincter
17 February
New Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items effective from 1 March 2009.
Medicare rebate for Breast MRI
24 December
New MBS items from 1 February 2009 for an MRI breast scan will be available to women under 50 at high risk of breast cancer and with no symptoms
Medicare - Slashing Red Tape and Boosting Prevention
18 December
Prevention will be given a boost, and red tape for doctors will be slashed in a review of Medicare items due to be finalised by March 2009.
Same-Sex Relationships Act 2008
15 December
From 1 January 2009, same-sex couples and their children can register as a family for Medicare safety net purposes.
The January 2009 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available
11 December
Below is a summary of changes that have occured to the MBS since November 2008.
1 January 2009 Medicare Safety Net Thresholds and Information
07 November
Thresholds for the extended Medicare safety nets increase on 1 January 2009
Summary of changes for the November 2008 Medicare Benefits Schedule
08 October
The 1 November 2008 MBS is now available. Below is a summary of changes.
Production of the Medicare Benefits Schedule
08 October
The production of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for November 2008 is changing to primarily an online publication rather than a printed book.
Correct Medicare billing for a complete medical service
30 September
The Department has released a fact sheet designed to provide advice on the complete medical service principle.
Clarification on the billing of home-based sleep studies
19 September
From 1 October 2008, qualified sleep medicine practitioners were able to bill new interim MBS item 12250 for overnight sleep apnoea studies conducted in patients’ homes. In conjunction with the listing of item 12250, from 1 October 2008, the Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2008 were amended to prohibit the billing of home-based sleep studies under any other category 2 MBS item, by any practitioner.
Correct claiming of MBS level C and D items
04 August
The Department has released a Fact Sheet designed to assist GPs to correctly itemise for these services.
Create Publication Utility
01 July
MBS Online is pleased to announce new functionality to allow the creation of dynamic real-time PDF documents based on the latest MBS information.
The July 2008 Medicare Benefit Schedule is now available.
14 May
Changes to the MBS for July 2008 include:
The 1 May 2008 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available.
10 April
The changes to take effect from 1 May 2008 include:
Medicare Dental Items 85011-87777
06 March
Medicare dental items (Medicare items 85011-87777) are available for people with chronic conditions and complex care needs, on referral from a GP. Eligible patients can access up to $4,250 in Medicare benefits for dental services over two consecutive calendar years.
1 January 2008 Medicare Safety Net Thresholds
19 December
Thresholds for both the original and extended Medicare safety nets have increased from 1 January 2008.
MBS Online has been revamped
03 October
This website has been enhanced to improve the user experience based on feedback from MBS Online users.
The July 2007 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available
25 May
Changes to the MBS for July 2007 include:
Email Subscription Service
04 April
MBS Online now offers an email subscription service.
Urgent After Hours
02 March
A number of minor changes effective from 1 March 2007 will be made to the emergency after-hours MBS items for GP's.
Implantable Bone Conduction Hearing System
31 January
Two new items (41603 and 41604) were introduced into the MBS with effect from 1 November 2006.
The 1 November 2006 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available.
31 January
MBS Online has been updated with the latest Schedule of Medicare Benefits with effect from 1 November 2006.
Medicare Safety Net Thresholds - Effective 1 January 2007
31 January
Thresholds for both the original and extended Medicare safety nets have increased from 1 January 2007
Reduced Fee for Echocardiography - Effective from 1 September 2006
31 January
The MBS Schedule Fee for Echocardiography items was reduced effective from 1 September 2006.
Publication of the 1 May 2007 Medicare Benefits Schedule
31 January
The May 2007 Medicare Benefits Schedule is now available to download from MBS Online.
You can also view current news items in Latest News.