MBS Archives | Page 2 of 2 | South Western Sydney PHN

30 November 2022

What is My Health Record?

My Health Record is a secure online summary of important patient health information which has been shared between healthcare providers across the sector.

Medicare Overview – MBS and DVA information

The Medicare Overview section of My Health Record is an important, but underutilised, source of patient health information.

As consumers interact with the Medicare system, a record of these interactions is displayed in their My Health Record.

You can use the Medicare Overview to find information about services your patients have accessed through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) such as allied health, pathology, imaging, specialists and other GPs.

Medicare information may include:

MBS/DVA claims information

MBS and DVA claims information. The MBS provides benefits for an extensive range of medical services, procedures, and consultations, including consultation fees for doctors and specialists, tests and examinations doctors require to diagnose and treat illnesses, for example X-rays, ultrasounds, and pathology tests.

PBS/RPBS claims information

Prescription information from Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (RPBS). Medication listings are PBS-only and will not include medications dispensed which are not PBS-classified (e.g. private or NSW hospital scripts).

You can access the My Health Record – Medicare Overview through your clinical software.

Download the factsheet on how to access the Medicare Overview for your software below:

Best Practice Medical Director Genie

If you need help setting up or accessing My Health Record, email SWSPHN’s Digital Health team at DigitalHealth@swsphn.com.au

01 December 2021

New Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items are now available (as of 1 November 2021) to eligible allied health professionals for participating in multidisciplinary case conferences.

There are a number of resources below which may be of use, including a dedicated fact sheet and a recording of a sector webinar.

Background

The 2021–22 Budget included $13.7 million to create new MBS items from 1 November 2021 for eligible allied health practitioners participating in multidisciplinary case conferences with medical practitioners. The new items are in response to recommendations to the MBS Review and intended to improve care coordination and deliver better outcomes to patients with complex needs who have multiple care providers.

The new items apply to non-admitted patients under the care of an eligible allied health practitioner for:

Chronic disease management under the care of a GP in either community or residential aged care settings
Early diagnosis and treatment for children under 13 years with, or suspected of having, a pervasive developmental disorder (including autism) or an eligible disability, under the care of a specialist, consultant physician or GP.

Health Minister’s media release

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, has issued a media release to announce the new items coming online.

Sector webinar

On 7 October 2021, the Department of Health hosted a sector webinar to promote the new items. A recording of the event can be accessed from the Department’s website, alongside the presentation slides which were used and responses to Q&A answered out of session.

Fact sheet

For more information on the new items, their eligibility and how they can be accessed, there is a dedicated fact sheet on the MBS Online webpage. The fact sheet may also be updated periodically to reflect feedback from the sector. The full item descriptors are also now available on the MBS Online website at www.mbsonline.gov.au. You can also subscribe to future MBS updates by visiting MBS Online and clicking ‘Subscribe’.

19 October 2021

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for severely immunocompromised populations.

Assessment of suitability for these third doses are eligible for MBS reimbursement with the same rules as suitability assessments for second doses. The same second dose MBS items should be used, including when a GP performs a suitability assessment for a patient and determines they are not suitable for a third vaccination dose.

In-depth patient assessments items 10660/10661 may also be claimed (eligible once per patient’s lifetime) if all other eligibility requirements are met.

The additional PIP payment is not claimable for a third dose. It remains payable only when the first and second vaccine doses are administered under the same general practice.

Please note: MBS items 93644, 93645, 93646, 93647, 93653, 93654, 93655 and 93656 are available to assess patients’ suitability for a third dose in severely immunocompromised populations to address suboptimal or non-response to the standard two-dose schedule.

A list of identified conditions can be found in the relevant ATAGI statement.

Download COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services factsheet

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

To find more information

04 February 2020

SWSPHN recently notified Medicare of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening rate increases in general practices across South Western Sydney as a result of our collaboration with the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) on the Viral Hepatitis C Clinical Nurse Consultant project.

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs), available since 2016, have changed the landscape of treatment options for people living with HCV. GP prescribing of HCV treatment has the potential to expand the treatment workforce and increase accessibility to clients.

The collaboration aims to increase treatment uptake by people with HCV within the general practice setting. It is a supportive model which enables GPs and practice nurses to consult with a Viral Hepatitis CNC for care coordination of clients with HCV.

The project is contributing to benefits of HCV treatment including; financial benefit for the health system; upskilling GPs and practice nurses; engages people with HCV in primary care settings; engages in ‘Close the Gap’ campaign and strengthens trust among Aboriginal communities; increased screening and treating contribute to Ministry of Health targets and elimination strategies.

If you would like further information, please contact Katherine McQuillan, Community Hepatitis C CNC, HIV and Targeted Programs, on 0436 819 237 or via email at Katherine.McQuillan@health.nsw.gov.au