Ongoing MBS specialist telehealth arrangements fact sheet

16 September 2022

Arrangements for Medicare Benefits Schedule Australia specialist telehealth services by video and telephone became permanent on 1 July 2022.

From 1 July 2022, ongoing Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Australia telehealth arrangements remain in place, providing for video services by anaesthetists and specialist pain medicine physicians. Previous temporary arrangements for telephone items ceased on 30 June 2022.

The permanent arrangements signal that face to face and video services should be preferred above telephone consultation, as they are considered to support better patient care and outcomes, particularly for more complex clinical services.

Permanent telehealth items fall into the categories of Specialist Services, Consultant Physician Services, and Anaesthesia Attendance, with a full list available from MBS Note AN.40.1.

See the fact sheet for further information.