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 |
|
Ms Janette Donovan |
Consumer Representative |
|
Professor Adam Elshaug |
Health Services / Systems Research |
|
Ms Margaret Foulds |
Psychology |
|
Associate Professor Sally Green |
Health Services / Systems Research |
|
Adjunct Associate Professor Chris Helms |
Nurse Practitioner |
|
Professor Harriet Hiscock |
Paediatrics |
|
Ms Alison Marcus |
Consumer Representative |
|
Associate Professor Elizabeth Marles |
General Practice / Indigenous Health and Health Policy |
|
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 |
|
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
- a post-implementation review of changes to electrocardiogram MBS items
- 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 to lead the review, as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
Colonoscopy Working Group meetings held in February, March, April and June 2023. |
|
|
Working group draft findings report endorsed by the MRAC for public consultation at August 2023 meeting. |
|
|
Working group draft findings report published on our Consultation Hub for feedback between 18 August and 29 September 2023. |
|
|
Working group scheduled to meet in October 2023 to consider consultation feedback and finalise recommendations for MRAC consideration later this year. |
|
|
Vascular interventional radiology services |
Working group established to lead the review, as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. |
|
Vascular Interventional Radiology Working Group meetings held in March and May 2023. |
|
|
Working group scheduled to meet in November 2023 to develop findings and recommendations. |
|
|
Feedback on draft review findings and recommendations will be sought via consultation processes in 2024. |
|
|
Electrocardiogram (ECG) post implementation review |
Working group established to lead the review as an outcome of the 1 March 2023 MRAC meeting. |
|
ECG Working Group meetings held July and September 2023. |
|
|
Feedback on draft review findings and recommendations will be sought via consultation processes. |
|
|
Telehealth post implementation review |
The MRAC commenced monitoring of MBS telehealth services in 2022. |
|
Review formally commenced at the 1 March 2023 MRAC meeting. |
|
|
A targeted consultation process seeking feedback on the MBS Review Taskforce’s MBS Telehealth Principles process took place in June 2023. |
|
|
The MRAC considered targeted consultation feedback and progressed review at its 8-9 August 2023 meeting. |
|
|
Draft report published on our Consultation Hub for feedback between 25 September and 6 November 2023. |
Completed reviews
The MRAC has completed the following reviews:
- proposed introduction of MBS items for genetic counselling services and genetic test requesting rights for HGSA registered genetic counsellors
- a review of surgical assistant billing arrangements and the eligibility of non-medical surgical assistants for remuneration via the MBS.
Download endorsed final reports from completed reviews.
Read more about what happens when a review is completed.
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 14 November 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
