The September 2020 MBS files are available on the September 2020 downloads page.
18 September 2020 - Extension of temporary telehealth services
On 18 September 2020, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, and the Minister for Health, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, announced $2 billion to extend critical health services across Australia.
The temporary telehealth and phone consultations have been extended until 31 March 2021.Fact sheets with further information can be found at the MBS temporary telehealth services page.
From 22 September 2020, SARS-COV-2 pathology testing item 69501 for essential workers is being expanded to include people who travel interstate as a rail crew member.
15 September 2020 - Changes to Cardiac Imaging Services
Five new myocardial perfusion study (MPS) items (61394, 61398, 61406, 61410 and 61414). The new items allow patients to access MPS services where stress echocardiography services are not readily available. The new services benefit patients who live in rural or remote areas (as defined by Modified Monash 3 to 7 areas) and who are unable to access a stress echocardiography service as the first line investigation.
The existing cardiac diagnostic imaging items have been amended to clarify that the provision of the service can include planar imaging, as opposed to the requirement that planar imaging must be provided. Co-claiming restrictions against the new items will be added.
A new item 11735 is for continuous electrocardiogram recording of an ambulatory patient for seven days utilising intelligent microprocessor-based monitoring. This service will provide an additional service using this technology, which can record continuously for up to 30 days if required, thereby providing appropriate monitoring and improving patient care.
Further information is available from the Cardiac Imaging factsheet page.
1 September 2020
Item 73343 will enable testing in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL to determine eligibility for PBS-subsidised acalabrutinib, in addition to ibrutinib, idelalisib and venetoclax.
More information on this change can be found on the factsheet on item 73343 page.
Changes to the MBS for September 2020
| Amended Item from 22 September 2020 (1) | 69501 |
| New Items from 15 September 2020 (6) | 11735 61394 61398 61406 61410 61414 |
| Amended Items from 15 September 2020 (28) | 11704 11705 11707 11714 11716 11717 11723 11729 11730 55126 55127 55128 55129 55132 55133 55134 55137 55141 55143 55145 55146 61321 61324 61325 61329 61345 61349 61357 |
| Amended Item from 1 September 2020 (1) | 73343 |
Relevant Legislation
Health Insurance (Section 3C Co-Dependent Pathology Services) Amendment Determination (No. 6) 2020
The purpose of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Co-Dependent Pathology Services) Amendment Determination (No. 6) 2020 is to enable the addition of acalabrutinib to MBS item 73343 from 1 September 2020.
Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Section 3C – Cardiac Services) Determination 2020
The purpose of the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Section 3C - Cardiac Services) Determination 2020 is to amend the Health Insurance (Section 3C Diagnostic Imaging Services – Cardiac Services) Determination 2020 and the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Cardiac Services) Determination 2020 from 15 September 2020. The Determination will amend some existing cardiac items to clarify the intent and will list six new items for cardiac services.
Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (extend Cessation Date of Temporary COVID-19 Items) Determination 2020
The purpose of this instrument is to extend the availability of the items for six months until 31 March 2021.This instrument also amends the telephone and phone consultation services provided GPs and other doctors in general practice to remove the requirement to bulk-bill certain patients. This instrument also amends the SARS-COV-2 pathology testing item 69501 for essential workers to expand it to include people who travel interstate as a rail crew member.