Summary of Item Changes

DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES TABLE

Amended Notes:
DID

PATHOLOGY SERVICES TABLE

Amended Notes:
P.2.1, P.2.2



Explanatory Note DID Referral to specified provider not required
Amended to reflect that a mandatory patient advisory statement is to appear on pre-printed diagnostic imaging request forms supplied, or made available to, requesting practitioners by diagnostic imaging providers on, or after, 1 August 2012.

Explanatory Notes P.2.1 Responsibilities of Treating/Requesting Practitioners and P.2.2 Responsibilities of Approved Pathology Practitioners

Amended to reflect that a mandatory patient advisory statement is to appear on pre-printed pathology request forms supplied, or made available to, requesting practitioners by pathology providers on, or after, 1 August 2012. The wording of the statement has also been included.

The following changes will take effect from the 1 July 2012:

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES TABLE

Ceased Items:
5906, 5908, 5910, 5912

Amended Items:
13318, 13815, 22020, 32520, 32522, 37219, 16400, 10983, 10984, 10986, 10987, 10988, 10989, 10997

ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES

Amended Items:
10950, 81300

PATHOLOGY SERVICES TABLE

Ceased Items as at 1 May 2012:
73914, 73916, 73918, 73919

NOTES

1 July Amendments

Items 32520 and 32522 for endovenous laser therapy amendment:
Endovenous laser therapy - Items 32520 and 32522 – Following consultation with relevant professional groups, from 1 July 2012, items 32520 and 32522 will be re-worded to clarify that a service under these items includes “excision or injection of either tributaries or incompetent perforating veins, or both” and cannot be billed on the occasion as a service described in any of items 32500, 32501, 32504 or 32507. This clarification of billing aligns the service with original Budget intent and will assist in maintaining the sustainability of the MBS over the longer term.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters amendment:
Items 13318, 13815 and 22020 have been amended to clarify that they can be used for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC).

Introduction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner profession amendment:

GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES TABLE:
As a result of the inclusion of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice profession in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme from 1 July 2012, consequential amendments have been made to items 16400, 10983, 10984, 10986, 10987, 10988, 10989 and 10997.

ALLIED HEALTH:
As a result of the inclusion of the Occupational therapy profession and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice profession in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme from 1 July 2012, consequential amendments have been made to Medicare eligibility requirements. Item descriptors have been amended for items 10950 and 81300.