We're excited to invite you to the next session of our non-clinical webinar series designed to support you at every stage of your professional journey.
Navigating MBS billing can be challenging, particularly where consultations, procedures and provider roles all overlap. This webinar is designed to build a stronger understanding of Medicare fundamentals and billing requirements, to support confident and compliant claiming.
Session 4: Pain Medicine and MBS - Billing with confidence
We’ll examine some foundational principles that will help guide you in selecting the most appropriate MBS item number in complex clinical scenarios.
Our presenters will demonstrate how these principles can apply in a number of practical pain medicine examples, including the selection of consultation items where multiple specialties intersect, and when billing multiple items for interventional pain procedures.
Designed as a compliance education session rather than a prescriptive guide, this webinar will help participants better understand the intent of the MBS and apply that understanding confidently in their own clinical context.
Our guest speakers include:
- Steve Dunlop – Director, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division
- Dan Sheahan – Assistant Director, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division
- Anna Cushion – Project Officer, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division
- Mehzabin Ahmed – A/g Assistant Director, Provider Early Intervention Section, Benefits Integrity Division
CPD: Category 2: Knowledge and Skills – Learning sessions
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This webinar is relevant to pain medicine trainees, SIMGs and specialists based in Australia.
About the speakers:
Anna Cushion – Project Officer, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division:
Anna Cushion is Hobart-based, joining the Department in 2018 to deliver compliance software changes. She moved to the Medical Specialist Services Section in 2023. She has worked across orthopaedics, women's health, and renal policy portfolios and supported the establishment of the ART Storage Funding Program. Anna has recently joined the pain management space, where she contributes to policy work aimed at improving service delivery, access and outcomes. She brings curiosity and values collaboration in developing evidence based, practical policy outcomes.
Steve Dunlop – Director, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division:
Steve Dunlop has more than 25 years public sector experience in the Health environment working for the Federal Government across various aspects of health system policy. This includes health financing (both the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes) as well as regulatory policy having headed work in pharmacovigilance and supporting new and innovative products being brought to the Australian and international market through the TGA. Steve currently heads the Medical Specialist Services Section of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, working across multiple fields of clinical practice including specialist and consultant physician attendance and procedural items.
Dan Sheahan – Assistant Director, Medical Specialists Services Section, Medical Benefits and Digital Health Division:
Dan Sheahan has worked on MBS policy for orthopaedic surgery, intensive care, and emergency medicine since joining the Department in 2022. This included a lead role in reviewing and progressing a range of changes for orthopaedic items. Since 2024 he has also overseen MBS items for pain medicine. Dan was previously an experienced biotechnology patent examiner at IP Australia and maintains a strong interest in legal interpretation and data analysis in the MBS.
Mehzabin Ahmed – A/g Assistant Director, Provider Early Intervention Section, Benefits Integrity Division:
Mehzabin Ahmed is an Assistant Director (Acting) in the Provider Early Intervention Section, Benefits Integrity Division, with experience in multiple APS roles. She has led a wide range of Medicare compliance interventions and is committed to supporting providers through early education, constructive engagement, and clear, practical guidance.
Mehzabin champions a voluntary compliance approach, encouraging providers to self-review claims and address inadvertent billing errors early. She is passionate about protecting the integrity of Medicare programs and is known for delivering clear, supportive education that strengthens provider capability and contributes to BID’s broader education objectives.
