Role
The MRAC is an independent, clinician and consumer-led committee established to advise Government, as part of the MBS Continuous Review, on publicly funded services listed on the MBS.
Find out more about the MRAC review process and how to submit a review request.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee – Terms of reference
Members
The MRAC is comprised of practising clinicians, academics, health system experts and consumers.
|
Member |
Speciality |
|---|---|
|
Conjoint Professor Anne Duggan (Chair) |
Policy and Clinical Adviser / Gastroenterology |
|
Ms Jo Watson (Deputy Chair) |
Consumer Representative |
|
Dr Jason Agostino |
General Practice / Epidemiology / Indigenous Health |
|
Dr Matt Andrews |
Radiology |
|
Professor John Atherton |
Cardiology |
|
Professor Wendy Brown |
General Surgeon – Upper Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery |
|
Professor Adam Elshaug |
Health Services / Systems Research |
|
Ms Margaret Foulds |
Psychology |
|
Associate Professor Sally Green |
Health Services / Systems Research |
|
Dr Chris Helms |
Nurse Practitioner |
|
Professor Harriet Hiscock |
Paediatrics |
|
Professor Anthony Lawler |
Health Services Administration / Emergency Medicine |
|
Ms Alison Marcus |
Consumer Representative |
|
Associate Professor Elizabeth Marles |
General Practice / Indigenous Health |
|
Dr Sue Masel |
Rural General Practice |
|
Professor Christobel Saunders |
General Surgeon – Breast Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
Associate Professor Ken Sikaris |
Pathology |
|
Ms Robyn Stephen |
Paediatric Speech Pathology |
|
Associate Professor Angus Turner |
Ophthalmology / Rural and Remote Medicine |
|
Professor Christopher Vertullo |
Orthopaedic Surgery |
| Departmental Adviser | |
| Associate Professor Andrew Singer | Principal Medical Adviser, Department of Health and Aged Care |
To learn more about the members of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC), see our member biographies.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee – Member biographies
Current reviews
The MRAC has commenced the following reviews:
- a post-implementation review of telehealth MBS items
- a post-implementation review of changes to colonoscopy MBS items as recommended by the MBS Review Taskforce
- a post-implementation review of changes to electrocardiogram MBS items as recommended by the MBS Review Taskforce
- a review of vascular interventional radiology MBS items.
In conducting its reviews, the MRAC will:
- engage with stakeholders and subject matter experts
- prepare draft reports for consultation
- submit final reports to the Minister for Health and Aged Care for consideration.
| Review | Progress |
|---|---|
|
Colonoscopy post implementation review |
Working Group established as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
First working group meeting held February 2023. |
|
|
Second and third working group meetings scheduled for March and April 2023. |
|
|
Vascular interventional radiology services |
Working Group established as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
First meeting of the working group scheduled for March 2023. |
|
|
Electrocardiogram (ECG) post implementation review |
ECG Working Group established as an outcome of the 1 March 2023 MRAC meeting. |
|
Telehealth post implementation review |
Review formally commenced 1 March 2023, as directed by the Minister for Health and Aged Care. |
Completed reviews
| Review | Progress |
|---|---|
|
Introduction of MBS items for genetic counselling services and genetic test requesting rights for HGSA registered genetic counsellors. |
Genetic Counselling Working Group established as an outcome of the 1 February 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
Targeted Consultation of Genetic Counselling Working Group findings closed COB 15 July 2022. |
|
|
Draft recommendations endorsed by the MRAC, 5 August 2022. |
|
|
Six-week public consultation of Genetic Counselling Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022. |
|
|
The MRAC endorsed the Genetic Counselling Working Group Draft Final Report at its 6 December 2022 meeting. |
|
|
Final report provided to Government for consideration and will be published on the MRAC webpage. |
|
|
Surgical assistant billing arrangements and the eligibility of non-medical surgical assistants for remuneration via the MBS |
Surgical Assistant Working Group was established as an outcome of the 1 February 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
Draft recommendations endorsed by the MRAC, 5 August 2022. |
|
|
Six-week public consultation of the Surgical Assistant Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022. |
|
|
The MRAC endorsed the Surgical Assistant Working Group Final Report at its 6 December 2022 meeting. |
|
|
Final report provided to Government for consideration and will be published on the MRAC webpage. |
Meetings
The inaugural meeting of the MRAC was held on 9 November 2021. MRAC meets 4 times a year.
The next meeting is scheduled for 10 May 2023.
Communiques
Each quarterly communique contains updates from the MRAC including:
- meeting outcomes
- progress on current reviews
- advice about upcoming reviews.
MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) – Communiques
Contact
