On 1 March 2007, a number of minor changes will be made to the emergency after-hours MBS items for GP's (items 1, 2, 601 & 602) Other Medical Practitioners (items 97, 98, 697 & 698) and sports physicians (items 448 & 449) including

• replacing the term "emergency" with the term "urgent";
• allowing requests for urgent attendances, including surgery consultations, to be taken up to two hours prior to commencement of an after-hours period; and
• allowing regular providers of after-hours services to use the urgent after-hours home visit items.

These changes will provide greater flexibility for after-hours service providers and clarify the conditions under which the items may be claimed.