MBS COVID-19 Telehealth ‘Existing Relationship’ requirement – Clarification of Exemptions
The Department of Health have released a new AskMBS Advisory Paper on the clarification of exemptions for COVID-19 telehealth ‘existing relationship’ requirement.
The classification of an existing relationship and the criteria of a valid exemption have evolved considerably since early 2020 when a key exemption was for people in a ‘COVID-19 impacted area.’ The paper seeks to clarify current arrangements. Currently, exemptions include those in COVID-19 isolation or quarantine, someone awaiting their COVID-19 results, and returned Medicare-eligible overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.
The advisory paper also provides information regarding longer telephone consultation items 92746 for GPs and 92747 for OMPs. From 1 January 2022, the previous hotspot requirement for these items has been removed and are now available to all Medicare-eligible people, however these items are now subject to the existing relationship requirement.
The advisory paper also contains a table providing examples to assist practitioners assess a patient’s exemption eligibility.
