Reimbursement

Key points

  • Palliative care patients include not just those who are very close to the end-of-life, but others with advanced disease
  • A range of item numbers associated with the Chronic Disease Management program are appropriate in the care of palliative care patients
  • Multidisciplinary care and case conferences are an important strategy in this population

Billing - Medicare items for palliative care

ACPA has provided a summary sheet (183kb pdf) on how Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Item numbers may be used by GPs for advance care planning where clinically appropriate

Medicare item numbers are subject to change. Please also refer to MBS Online for any updates.

New Telehealth Items for COVID-19 vulnerable and/or isolated patients (From March 2020 for 6 months)

COVID-19 Telehealth items

  • Telehealth attendance up to 5 minutes 91790
  • Telehealth attendance less than 20 minutes 91800
  • Telehealth attendance at least 20 minutes 91801
  • Telehealth attendance at least 40 minutes 91802

Telephone items - for when video-conferencing is not available

  • Telephone attendance up to 5 minutes 91795
  • Telephone attendance less than 20 minutes 91809
  • Telephone attendance at least 20 minutes 91810
  • Telephone attendance at least 40 minutes 91811

From: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)

Last updated 18 March 2020