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 |
|
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, 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.
MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) – Communiques
Contact
