COVID-19 MBS items
Please note a number of these items were discontinued in July 2021. For more information please click here.
The Federal Government has released temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers for the provision of telehealth (videoconferencing and phone) consultations.
These item numbers will help protect vulnerable GPs and other health care providers who are currently authorised to use telehealth item numbers, to use telehealth for all consultations with all their patients. It will also allow people to access services in their home while they undergo self-isolation or quarantine, reducing the risk of exposure to the wider community.
GPs are not required to bulk bill the new telehealth item numbers, unless the service provided is for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
| Description | Existing items | COVID-19 telehealth (videoconferencing) | COVID-19 phone services – when videoconferencing is not available |
| GP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes | 2700 | 92112 | 92124 |
| GP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes | 2701 | 92113 | 92125 |
| GP to review a mental health plan | 2712 | 92114 | 92126 |
| GP mental health consult, more than 20 minutes | 2713 | 92115 | 92127 |
| GP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes | 2715 | 92116 | 92128 |
| GP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes | 2717 | 92117 | 92129 |
| FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes | 2721 and 2729 | 91818 | 91842 |
| FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes | 2725 and 2731 | 91819 | 91843 |
| Description | Existing items | COVID-19 telehealth (videoconferencing) | COVID-19 phone services – when videoconferencing is not available |
| Other Medical Practitioner (OMP) without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes | 272 | 92118 | 92130 |
| OMP without mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes | 276 | 92119 | 92131 |
| OMP to review a mental health plan | 277 | 92120 | 92132 |
| OMP mental health consult, more than 20 minutes | 279 | 92121 | 92133 |
| OMP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, 20 to 40 minutes | 281 | 92122 | 92134 |
| OMP with mental health training, prepare a mental health plan, more than 40 minutes | 282 | 92123 | 92135 |
| FPS treatment of 30 to 40 minutes | 283 and 371 | 91820 | 91844 |
| FPS treatment of more than 40 minutes | 286 and 372 | 91821 | 91845 |
Visit the RACGP website for more information on the COVID-19 item numbers. Further telehealth information can also be found on the ACRRM website.
Additional COVID-19 mental health support
On 7 August 2020, 36 temporary mental health treatment MBS items were introduced. These items provide 10 additional Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions for people affected by COVID-19.
The new items are available under the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS initiative (Better Access) from 7 August 2020 to 31 March 2021. The additional sessions will allow eligible patients to continue to receive mental health care from their GP, psychologist or other eligible allied health worker.
The 10 additional sessions are available to:
- patients in areas with public health orders in place that restrict movement within the state or territory at any time from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021 (eg lockdown or stay at home orders)
- patients who are required to self-isolate or quarantine under public health orders for at least 14 days.
In order to access these sessions, patients will be required to:
- have a Mental Health Treatment Plan
- have used all of their 10 sessions in a calendar year
- undertake a review of their plan with their GP after the tenth session.
There is no requirement for GPs and other medical practitioners in general practice to bulk bill these items for Commonwealth concession card holders, children under 16 years of age, and patients who are more vulnerable to COVID-19. It is at the discretion of the doctor to determine the appropriate billing arrangement.
A fact sheet outlining the changes is available on MBS Online.
Additional FPS item numbers
Descriptors and rebates for the six new item numbers for the provision of FPS services are listed below. There are both face-to-face and telehealth (video and phone) items available.
| Description | MBS Item number | Rebate | Description | MBS item number | Rebate |
| FPS 30 to 40 mins; face-to-face consult | 93300 | $95.65 | FPS > 40 mins; face-to-face consult | 93303 | $136.85 |
| Telehealth (video) FPS 30 to 40 mins. | 93301 | $95.65 | Telehealth (video) FPS > 40 mins. | 93304 | $136.85 |
| Telehealth (phone) FPS 30 to 40 mins. | 93302 | $95.65 | Telehealth (phone) FPS > 40 mins. | 93305 | $136.85 |