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 Advisor / 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 |
| Associate Professor Andrew Singer | Principal Medical Advisor, 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 established working groups to consider:
- The introduction of MBS items for genetic counselling services
- Surgical assistant billing arrangements
- Colonoscopy - Post-implementation review of Nov 2019 changes to colonoscopy MBS items
- Vascular interventional radiology services
Working groups:
- engage with stakeholders and subject matter experts
- prepare draft reports for consultation
- submit final reports to the MRAC for endorsement.
Once the MRAC endorses a working group’s final report, it will be provided to the Minister for Health and Aged Care for consideration.
| Current Reviews | Progress | Next Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction of MBS items for genetic counselling services and genetic test requesting rights for HGSA registered genetic counsellors. | Genetic Counselling Working Group was established as an outcome of the 1 February 2022 MRAC meeting. | Consideration by Government. |
| Targeted Consultation of Genetic Counselling Working Group findings closed COB 15 July 2022. | ||
| Draft recommendations endorsed by the MBS Review Advisory Committee 5 August 2022. | ||
| Six week public consultation of Genetic Counselling Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022. | ||
| MRAC endorsed the Final Report on 6 December 2022. | ||
| Surgical assistant billing arrangements and the eligibility of non-medical surgical assistants for remuneration via the MBS | Surgical Assistants Working Group was established as an outcome of the 1 February 2022 MRAC meeting. | Consideration by Government |
| Draft recommendations endorsed by the MBS Review Advisory Committee 5 August 2022. | ||
| Six week public Consultation of Surgical Assistant Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022. | ||
| MRAC endorsed the Surgical Assistant Working Group Final Report at its on 6 December 2022 meeting. | ||
| Colonoscopy Post Implementation Review | Colonoscopy Working Group established as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. | MRAC consideration 2023. |
| Vascular interventional radiology services | Vascular Interventional Radiology Services Working Group established as an outcome of the 5 August 2022 MRAC meeting. | MRAC consideration 2023. |
Meetings
The inaugural meeting of the MRAC was held on 9 November 2021. MRAC meets 4 times a year.
The first meeting for 2023 is scheduled for March.
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
