Feds extend telehealth MBS items for six months, remove bulk-billing requirement
The federal government has agreed to extend the temporary MBS item numbers for telehealth introduced in March to combat the coronavirus pandemic for another six months.
While bulk-billing will still be available it will be voluntary, with medical and allied health practices able to apply their regular fees. Subsidised home delivery of medicines will also continue.
Posted in Australian eHealth
Tags: Telehealth, COVID-19
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The benefits (rebates) will be $6.45 (metro) and $9.80 (regional, rural, and remote).
The numbers are 10990 and 10991 (for concession card holders and children under 16) and 10981 and 10982 (for COVID-19 vulnerable patients eg 70 or over, chronic disease etc)
Thank you for the above information, it helps. Given you know so much about telehealth, I'm wondering/hopin g you can help me understand something - I downloaded two telehealth apps on the weekend trying to get a mental health care plan and they both said they don't do them and I had to visit a doctor physically. Would you know why and is this an industry-wise thing or just (coincidentally ) specific to these two apps I used?
The answer is 'it depends'.
To be eligible for the Medicare telehealth item numbers (video or phone) for a Mental Health Treatment Plan, this needs to be with your 'usual GP' with whom you have 'an existing relationship', which is defined as at least one face-to-face (in person) consultation with the GP (or with a doctor through the Clinic's after-hours service) within the previous 12 months.
There are exemptions: children under 12 months, homeless people, First Nations peoples, and people living in areas affected by COVID-19 lockdown stage 3 or stage 4 (eg Melbourne currently).
So, if you have seen the GP in the previous 12 months for an in-person consultation, you are eligible for the Medicare benefit (rebate) for the Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation by telehealth, and the item number applies (you need the item number to be eligible for the Medicare rebates for attending a psychologist).
If you haven't seen the GP within the previous 12 months, and you're in Melbourne, then you're eligible for the Medicare benefit (rebate) for the Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation by telehealth, and the item number applies (you need the item number to be eligible for the Medicare rebates for attending a psychologist).
The GP has discretion, and even if you're eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation by telehealth, the GP may require you to attend for an in-person consultation for this.
Otherwise, you're not eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation by telehealth, and you will need to attend the GP for an in-person consultation for a Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation..
Alternatively, if you have attended another GP within the past 12 months, then you could possibly see that GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan consultation by telehealth.
Don't know if anyone has emailed a token as yet.
I have only used SMS both as prescriber and patient. I can't envisage any problems with using email. Or perhaps, for simplicity, the email option could be simply removed?