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1st of July Medicare rebate increases

The Australian Government is providing $187 million to increase patient rebates for 176 General Practitioners (GP) service items on the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS). These services include health assessments, chronic disease management plans, and mental health services provided by GPs.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Former Minister for Health and Aged Care

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An increase to Medicare rebates will come into effect as of today for 4400 items, saving patients money and demonstrating the Morrison Government’s commitment to keeping health care more affordable.

The Government is providing $187 million to increase patient rebates for 176 General Practitioners (GP) service items on the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS).  

These services include health assessments, chronic disease management plans, and mental health services provided by GPs.

Bulk billing has hit record levels under this Government. The most recent published data shows GP bulk billing at a record 86 per cent.

This means that almost nine in 10 GP services under Medicare were bulk billed at no cost to the patient.

Patients also accessing a mental health service from an allied health professional, such as a psychologist, occupational therapist or social worker will receive a higher rebate. 

Overall the Morrison Government is delivering an additional $6 billion for Medicare services through to 2022-23.   

Medicare funding is up from $19 billion per year under Labor to $30.7 billion in 2022-23 under this Government.

Increasing rebates reflects the Government’s total commitment to guaranteeing Medicare and bulk billing, while implementing system-wide reforms to make our health system more effective and sustainable.

The Morrison Government is also providing record funding for the health system including Medicare. In 2019-20 we will invest a record $104 billion in health, up from $75 billion seven years ago.

Our health reform agenda will make health care more accessible, more affordable and more patient-centred. The four pillars of our long term national health plan are: guaranteeing Medicare and improving access to medicines, supporting our hospitals, prioritising mental health and preventive health and investing in health and medical research. 

Increased rebates from 1 July 2019  include:

Provider type

Description

Item

Allied health (clinical psychologist)

Attendance for psychological assessment and therapy of a mental health disorder, at least 50 minutes

80010

Allied health (physiotherapy)

Chronic disease management physiotherapy health service, lasting at least 20 minutes

10960

Allied health (podiatry)

Chronic disease management podiatry health service, lasting at least 20 minutes

10962

Allied health (psychologist)

Attendance for psychological assessment and therapy of a mental health disorder, at least 50 minutes

80110

GP

Attendance less than 20 minutes

00023

GP

Attendance 20 to 40 minutes

00036

GP

Attendance to prepare GP management plan

00721

GP

After hours attendance less than 20 minutes

05020

GP

Attendance to coordinate team care arrangements

00723

GP

Attendance to review GP management plan or team care arrangements

00732

GP

Attendance lasting at least 40 minutes

00044

GP

Residential aged care facility call out fee

90035

GP (bulk billing)

Regional, rural and remote bulk billing incentive, for a patient under 16 or Commonwealth

concession card holder

10991

GP (bulk billing)

Bulk billing incentive, for a patient under 16 or Commonwealth concession card holder

10990

Specialist

Referred attendance, initial attendance

00104

Specialist

Referred attendance, subsequent attendance

00105

Specialist

Radiation oncology treatment with image-guided radiation therapy

15275

Specialist (consultant physician)

Referred attendance, subsequent attendance

00116

Specialist (consultant physician)

Referred attendance, initial attendance

00110

Specialist (consultant physician)

Consultant physician treatment and management plan, initial assessment of at least 45 minutes of patient with at least 2 morbidities

00132

 

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