Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC)

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) supports the MBS Continuous Review to ensure the MBS is contemporary, sustainable, evidence based, and supports universal access to high value care for all Australians.

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.

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

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.

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, and April 2023.

Draft report under development, anticipated to be available for public consultation in late 2023.

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.

A third Vascular Interventional Radiology Working Group meeting is scheduled to occur in July 2023.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) post implementation review

Working group established as an outcome of the 1 March 2023 MRAC meeting.

First meeting of the ECG Working Group to be held in the coming months.

Telehealth post implementation review

Review formally commenced 1 March 2023, as directed by the Minister for Health and Aged Care.

A targeted consultation process will take place in June 2023, followed by a public consultation of MRAC findings and recommendations in late 2023.

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 on 5 August 2022.

Six-week public consultation of Genetic Counselling Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022.

Genetic Counselling Working Group Final Report endorsed by the MRAC on 6 December 2022.

Genetic Counselling Working Group Final Report provided to Government for consideration and 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  established as an outcome of the 1 February 2022 MRAC meeting.

Draft recommendations endorsed by the MRAC on 5 August 2022.

Six-week public consultation of the Surgical Assistant Working Group Draft Final Report closed 7 October 2022.

Surgical Assistant Working Group Final Report endorsed by the MRAC on 6 December 2022.

Surgical Assistant Working Group Final Report provided to Government for consideration and published on the MRAC webpage.

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 August 8 and 9 2023.

Communiques

Each quarterly communique contains updates from the MRAC including:

  • meeting outcomes
  • progress on current reviews
  • advice about upcoming reviews.

Contact

MBS Continuous Review contact

Contact us with questions about the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Continuous Review.
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