Upcoming significant changes to MBS items

With hundreds of changes to MBS items on the horizon it’s time to see which changes will affect you. 

AMA members should be aware of significant changes to the MBS that will take effect on 1 March.  Significant changes will occur to Otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, and Thoracic surgery items as a result of the MBS Review. There will be minor changes to clinically suspected melanoma excision items and complex neurodevelopmental disorder items. A new MBS item for whole body MRI scan will be introduced.

There will be changes to 138 MBS items for otolaryngology diagnostic procedures, audiology services, ear, nose and throat operations and head and neck surgery. These changes are relevant to otolaryngologists, neurologists, audiologists, and GPs.

Thoracic surgery item changes will see a revised structure to the items based on eight anatomical categories.

As a result of this restructuring, 28 items will be deleted to be replaced by 29 new items, with nine new items being added. Co-claiming restrictions have been added to some items, so members are advised to review the new items closely.

The changes to clinically suspected melanoma excision items are a result of AMA advocacy to fix problems with the introduction of these items in November last year. When the seven new items were introduced, the item fees associated were aligned with fees for existing benign excision items. These benign excision items were indexed, while the new items were not. The AMA wrote to the Department of Health and Aged Care requesting the indexation of the items and engaged directly numerous times to ensure this occurred.

The AMA also wrote to the department about a range of issues that resulted from the changes to gynaecology items introduced in March 2022. These issues include inappropriate co-claiming restrictions, the removal of anaesthesia fees for colposcopies, and skewed fee relativity across items. The AMA will meet with the department in the coming weeks to ensure these problems are resolved.

There will also be more than 300 changes to plastic and reconstructive surgery items commencing on 1 July. The AMA has strongly encouraged the department to provide clear and comprehensive mapping of the changes to ensure practitioners are aware of the correct items to claim.

Keep up to date with changes to the MBS at the MBS Online Factsheet page: http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/factsheet-current