Better health and ageing for all Australians

Pathology Services

About Pathology

Pathology involves testing blood, body secretions and samples of tissue to establish the causes, progression and severity of disease.

Through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), the Australian Government funds private patient pathology service on fee for service arrangements through Medicare rebates.

The legislative basis for the pathology services specified in the Pathology Services Table (the Table) is incorporated in the:
Health Insurance Act 1973,
Health Insurance Regulations 1975, and
Health Insurance (Pathology Services Table) Regulations
The Table of Pathology Services is in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

The Diagnostic Services Branch is responsible for providing policy advice and funding for specialist services including pathology and diagnostic imaging.

Pathology related reports

The Report on a Review of the Level of Public Health Risk and Adequacy of Controls over Non-Medicare Pathology Services was commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing on behalf of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC). Phillips Fox Lawyers were engaged to examine the extent of non-Medicare funded pathology testing that is provided in Australia, assess the degree of risks associated with that testing and propose suitable strategies to mitigate the risks that were identified.