Medicare Benefits
The Australian Government pays Medicare Benefits to assist consumers with the costs of medical, optometrical and, in some cases, dental surgical services, provided on a private basis.
MBS Online | Medicare data and the eHealth record system | Medicare Offices | Statistics | Changing MBS items | Legislation
Medicare Offices - Administration of Medicare benefits by the Medicare Australia
Medicare benefits claims and payments are processed by Medicare Australia, now part of the portfolio of the Minister for Human Services .MBS Online
MBS Online contains the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), A listing of the Medicare services subsidised by the Australian government. The Schedule is part of the wider Medicare Benefits Scheme managed by the Department of Health and Ageing and administered by Medicare Australia. MBS Online contains the latest MBS information and is updated as changes to the MBS occur. This site provides:- search the MBS functionality to allow both items and explanatiory notes to be easily accessed;
- downloadable PDF versions of the MBS;
- an email subscription to allow users to be notified of changes to the MBS; and
- a create publication functionality whereby a dynamic PDF can be created based on preferred items.
Medicare Benefits Statistics
Statistics on the numbers and value of Medicare benefits paid are at Medicare Benefits StatisticsMedical Services Advisory Committee
The Medical Services Advisory Committee advises the Minister for Health and Ageing on the strength of evidence on new medical technologies and procedures in terms of their safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness, and under what circumstances funding by the Medicare benefits should be supported.Top of pageLegislation covering Medicare benefits
Medicare benefits are provided for by the Health Insurance Act 1973 which should be read in conjunction with the National Health Act 1953. These Acts and the Regulations made under them are available at the ComLaw web siteMedicare data and the eHealth record system
Medicare data, including MBS, PBS, Australian Organ Donor Register and Australian Childhood Immunisation Register data, was incorporated into the Australian Government’s personally controlled electronic health (eHealth) record system in August 2012. Healthcare organisations can now register to participate in the eHealth record system and start viewing patient records via the healthcare provider portal. People who consented to the information being included in their eHealth record will see it added progressively.Visit eHealth for information on how healthcare organisations can register to participate in the eHealth record system.
Program/Initiatives
- Expanded Medicare Healthy Kids Check
- Multidisciplinary Case Conference Medicare Items for GPs
- Medical Benefits Reviews Task Group
- Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS (Better Access) initiative
- Medicare benefits for non-directive pregnancy support counselling services
