As of 20 April 2020, specialist and allied health service providers are no longer required to bulk bill telehealth items. Providers are expected to obtain informed financial consent from patients prior to providing the service; providing details regarding their fees, including any out-of-pocket costs.
The following list outlines the latest tranche of specialist and allied health items to be telehealth enabled as 20 April 2020. The items listed below have been enabled for both telehealth videoconferencing and telephone.
- Consultant Psychiatrist Services –3 psychotherapy items mirrored (342, 344, 346)
- Public Health Physician Services –4 level A-D attendance items mirrored (410, 411, 412, 413)
- Neurosurgery Services –5 neurosurgeon attendance items mirrored (6007, 6009, 6011, 6013, 6015)
- Chronic Disease Management –1 CDM service provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner item mirrored (10997)
- Follow-up Allied Health Services –1 follow up service provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner item mirrored (10987)
It remains a legislative requirement that the new General Medical Practitioner (GMP) and Other Medical Practitioner (OMP) telehealth services must be bulk billed for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years old and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
The most up-to-date information regarding telehealth enabled items can be found on MBS Online Further information regarding the COVID-19 National Health Plan, including telehealth services, can be found at www.health.gov.au.