Summary of Item Changes

New Items
32523 32526

Amended Description
11244 32520 32522 37201 37202 37203 37206 37207 37208 37245

EMSN Change
32523 32526 82300 82306 82309 82312 82315 82318 82324 82327 82332

Notes

The Australian Government has approved Medicare rebates for two new items for the use of radiofrequency ablation for severe varicose veins. Two endovenous laser treatment (ELT) items are also being amended to clarify that only treatment on veins with demonstrated disease severity are to receive a Medicare benefit. This will align the ELT items with the new radiofrequency ablation items.

Removal of out-of-hospital benefits for a small number of MBS items

On 1 March 2013 the Department of Health and Ageing amended a small number of MBS items to clarify that the services described in the items would attract a Medicare benefit only where they were provided in a hospital or an accredited day surgery facility. The provision of complex services outside of a recognised hospital under Medicare may compromise patient quality of care, as the facilities established to provide these services may not have the appropriate accreditation standards that are required of a private hospital.