New rebates for Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Items for cataract surgery.
On 29 January 2010, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, signed a Determination in accordance with section 3C of the Health Insurance Act 1973 providing new fees for cataract surgery. The revised rebates will be available for cataract surgery performed from 1 February 2010 and will replace the fees put in place by the previous Determination which was effective from 26 November 2009 to 31 January 2010. The revised fees are:
Item | Health Service | Schedule Fee | 75% rebate | 85% rebate |
42698 | Lens extraction, excluding surgery performed to correct a refractive error, except for anisometropia greater than 3 dioptres following the removal of cataract in the first eye (Anaes.) | $572.20 | $429.15 | $503.10 |
42701 | Artificial lens, insertion of, excluding surgery performed to correct a refractive error, except for anisometropia greater than 3 dioptres following the removal of cataract in the first eye (Anaes.) | $319.10 | $239.35 | $271.25 |
42702 | Lens extraction and insertion of artificial lens, excluding surgery performed for the correction of refractive error, except for anisometropia greater than 3 dioptres following the removal of cataract in the first eye (Anaes.) Extended Medicare Safety Net Cap: $101.50 | $731.80 | $548.85 | $662.70 |
For additional information on the rebates for cataract surgery performed between 1 November 2009 and 31 January 2010 please see here.
Medicare Australia is responsible for administering the Medicare program. Patients and providers seeking further information are encouraged to contact Medicare Australia on 132 011 for patients, and 132 150 for providers.