16 March 2021
General practices assessing patients for their suitability to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can access 16 new COVID-19 related MBS items. The COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment service is free to patients and the MBS items must be bulk billed. Patients are expected to have a face-to-face assessment before they get the first and second doses of the vaccine.
The phase 1B priority groups include:
- people aged 70 or older
- healthcare workers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 or older
- people with an underlying medical condition, including people with a disability
- critical and high-risk workers, including police, defence, fire, emergency services and meat processing.
The new MBS items are:
- First dose of COVID-19 vaccine – business hours – 93624-93627
- First dose – after hours – 93634-93637
- Second dose of COVID-19 vaccine – business hours – 93644-93647
- Second dose – after hours – 93653-93656