On 11 March 2020, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, announced a $2.4 Billion health plan to fight COVID-19 to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Indigenous communities, from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

o Bulk-billed video-conference consultation services, which can be provided by GPs, specialists, consultant physicians, obstetricians, consultant psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, allied mental health workers and midwives, for certain vulnerable people;
o Bulk-billed telephone consultation services which can be provided by GPs, specialists, consultant physicians, obstetricians, consultant psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, allied mental health workers and midwives for certain vulnerable people (see items 91809 to 91817 below);
o Bulk-billed pathology services where a medical practitioner has requested a test for SARS-CoV-2 under a new item; and
o Bulk-billed pathology services for a pathologist to test for SARS-CoV-2 and relevant respiratory viruses, if the treating practitioner did not request them.

Changes include the 'usual GP' has been expanded to include where there has been a face to face attendance in the previous 12 months with the practitioner or at the practice. The 'need for a limited examination' has been removed from the GP and Other Medical Practitioner items.
These items will be claimable from 13 March 2020 and further items will be added to the MBS XML and MBS Online as soon as possible.
As details of the new MBS items continue to develop, this page (and associated fact sheets) will be updated.

(i) at least 70 years old; or
(ii) at least 50 years old and is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
(iii) is pregnant; or
(iv) is a parent of a child under 12 months; or
(v) is already under treatment for chronic health conditions or is immune compromised; or

New Telehealth Items for COVID-19 vulnerable and/or isolated patients (defined below)

MENTAL HEALTH TELEPHONE ATTENDANCES
Existing Items face to face		COVID-19 Telephone items
General Practitioners (credentialed)
2729	FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes (videoconference)	91842	Telephone attendance FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes
2731	FPS treatment of more than 40 to minutes (videoconference)	91843	Telephone attendance FPS treatment of at least 40 minutes
Other Medical Practitioners
371	FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes (videoconference)	91844	Telephone attendance FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes
372	FPS treatment of more than 40 to minutes (videoconference)	91845	Telephone attendance FPS treatment of at least 40 minutes
Clinical Psychologists
80001	Professional attendance lasting more than 30 minutes but less than 50 minutes	91181	Telephone attendance lasting more than 30 minutes but less than 50 minutes
80011	Professional attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	91182	Telephone attendance lasting at least 50 minutes
Psychologists
80101	Professional attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	91183	Telephone attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes
80111	Professional attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	91184	Telephone attendance lasting at least 50 minutes
Occupational Therapists
80126	Professional attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	91185	Telephone attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes
80136	Professional attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	91186	Telephone attendance lasting at least 50 minutes
Social Workers
80151	Professional attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes	91187	Telephone attendance lasting more than 20 minutes but less than 50 minutes
80161	Professional attendance lasting at least 50 minutes	91188	Telephone attendance lasting at least 50 minutes

NEW AND AMENDED PATHOLOGY ITEMS

· Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID-19 Services) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00249

· Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID-19) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00250

· Health Insurance (Pathologist-determinable Services) Amendment Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00251

· Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Specialist, Consultant Physician and Consultant Psychiatrist COVID-19 Telehealth Services) Determination 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00248

· Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Specialist, Consultant Physician and Consultant Psychiatrist COVID-19 Telehealth Services) Amendment Determination No.1 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00254

· Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID-19 Services) Amendment Determination No.1 2020 - https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020L00255

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