Earlier this month the Chair of the MBS Reviews Taskforce, Professor Bruce Robinson, released a statement following the Government’s announcement accepting a number of recommendations put forward by the Taskforce. This will result in several changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) that will take effect on 1 March 2020, subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

The changes to the MBS, recommended by the expert, clinician-led MBS Review Taskforce, comprise:

• from 1 March 2020, restructuring the Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ICEM) services items that relate to Emergency Department (ED) attendance in private hospitals into three tiered base items with add-on items where additional clinical services are required;
• from 1 May 2020, incentivising providers to use more modern cost effective diagnostic imaging equipment and clarifying co-claiming arrangements for diagnostic imaging services to ensure that inappropriate billing does not occur; and
• from 1 July 2020, changing both:
  • neurosurgery and neurology services to promote high-value use of electroencephalogram, nerve conduction studies, electromyography and central nervous system evoked responses and introduce new items to provide patient rebates for stereotactic radiosurgery and awake craniotomy; and
  • urology services to mandate analgesia for circumcision and image guidance, encourage transperineal biopsies of the prostate, tighten clinical indicators, delete obsolete items and restrict co-claiming in item descriptors.

The implementation of these recommendations from the MBS Review Taskforce support high-value care, reflect current medical practice and improve patient experience and safety.  Through consultation the changes will ensure the delivery of quality and affordable care for patients, while supporting implementation in a way that safeguards timely and appropriate access for all Australians, and also supports practitioners by creating a clear schedule of MBS items that are aligned with current best practice and encourage high value care.

More information regarding this package of changes can be found on the Department of Health website. Clinical Committee reports that led to MBS Review Taskforce recommendations are available online.

The Department will liaise with stakeholders about detail on the MBS changes, including item descriptors and fees, closer to listing. For any inquiries about the listings, please contact the department at MBSReviews@health.gov.au