Changes from 1 November 2018
As announced as part of the 2018-19 Federal Budget, the Government has accepted a suite of dermatology item recommendations put forward by the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce. A list of amended items that are used in general practice is provided below along with marked changes.
An overview of the new, amended and deleted items is provided below. Visit the Department of Health website for more information.
Update to skin prick testing items
These changes are intended to discourage testing for more than 20 allergens at a time and also to align with clinical guidelines, which recommend testing for specifically chosen allergens.
From 1 November 2018, allergen testing items will be restructured into separate items for environmental, food and latex, medication, and anaesthetic-related allergies. Doctors (excluding dermatologists) will be able to bill two aeroallergen SPT services per 12-month period. Dermatologists will be able to bill multiple aeroallergen SPT services.
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Item number
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Amended descriptor
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Rebate
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12000
(amended)
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Skin prick testing for aeroallergens by a specialist or consultant physician in the practice of his or her specialty, including all allergens tested on the same day, not being a service associated with a service to which item 12001, 12002, 12005, 12012, 12017, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies.
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$38.95
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12001
(new)
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Skin prick testing aeroallergens, including all allergens tested on the same day, not being a service associated with a service to which item 12000, 12002, 12005, 12012, 12015, 12018, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies. Applicable only once per 12 month period.
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$38.95
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12002
(new)
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Repeat skin prick testing or aeroallergens, including all allergens tested on the same day, if:
- further testing for aeroallergens is indicated in the same 12 month period to which item 12001 applies; and
- the service is not associated with a service to which item 12000, 12001, 12005, 12012, 12015, 12018, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies.
Applicable only once per 12 month period.
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$38.95
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12003
(amended)
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Skin prick testing for food and latex allergens, including all allergens tested on the same day, not being a service associated with a service to which item 12012, 12017, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies
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$38.95
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12004
(new)
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Skin testing for medication allergens (antibiotics, non-general anaesthetics agents) and venoms (including prick testing and intradermal testing with a number of dilutions), including all allergens tested on the same day, not being a service associated with a service to which item 12012, 12015, 12018, 12021, 12022, 12024 applies.
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$58.85
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12005
(new)
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Skin testing, performed by or on behalf of a specialist or consultant physician in the practice of the specialist or consultant physician’s speciality, for agents used in the perioperative period (including prick testing and intradermal testing with a number of dilutions), to investigate anaphylaxis in a patient with a history of prior anaphylactic reaction or cardiovascular collapse associated with the administration of an anaesthetic. Including all allergens tested on the same day, not being a service associated with a service to which item 12000, 12001, 12002, 12003, 12012, 12015, 12018, 12021, 12022 or 12024 applies.
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$79.20
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Update to dermatology items
Amended items
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Item number
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Amended descriptor
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Rebate
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30196
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MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF SKIN OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE that has been:
- proven by histopathology; or
- confirmed by the opinion of a specialist in the specialty of dermatology where a specimen has been submitted for histologic confirmation,
removal of, by serial curettage or carbon dioxide laser or erbium laser excision ablation, including any associated cryotherapy, or diathermy (Anaes.)
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$126.30
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30202
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Malignant neoplasm of skin or mucous membrane proven by histopathology or confirmed by the opinion of a specialist in the specialty of dermatology, removal of, by liquid nitrogen cryotherapy using repeat freeze-thaw cycles
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$48.35
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30207
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Skin lesions, multiple injections with glucocorticoid preparations (Anaes.)
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$44.60
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31340
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Muscle, bone or cartilage, excision of one or more of, if clinically indicated, and if:
- the specimen excised is sent for histological confirmation; and
- a malignant tumour of skin covered by item 31000, 31001, 31002, 30003, 31004, 31005, 31356, 31358, 31359, 31361, 31363, 31365, 31367, 31369, 31371, 31372, 31373, 31374, 31375 or 31376 is excised
(Anaes.)
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Derived,
clause 2.44.5
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45201
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Muscle, myocutaneous or skin flap, where clinically indicated to repair one surgical excision made in the removal of a malignant or non-malignant skin lesion (only in association with items 31000, 31001, 31002, 30003, 31004, 31005, 31358, 31359, 31360, 31363, 31364, 31369, 31370, 31371, 31373 or 31376)—may be claimed only once per defect (Anaes.)
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$413.95
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Deleted items
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Item number
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Descriptor
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Rebate
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30186
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ALMAR OR PLANTAR WARTS (less than 10), definitive removal of, excluding ablative methods alone, not being a service to which item 30185 or 30187 applies
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$47.45
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30195
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BENIGN NEOPLASM OF SKIN, other than viral verrucae (common warts) seborrheic keratoses, cysts and skin tags, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, simple curettage or shave excision, or laser photocoagulation, not being a service to which item 30196, 30197, 30202, 30203 or 30205 applies (1 or more lesions)
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$63.50
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30203
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MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF SKIN OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE proven by histopathology or confirmed by specialist opinion, removal of, BY LIQUID NITROGEN CRYOTHERAPY using repeat freeze-thaw cycles (10 OR MORE LESIONS)
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$170.25
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30213
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TELANGIECTASES OR STARBURST VESSELS on the head or neck where lesions are visible from 4 metres, diathermy or sclerosant injection of, including associated consultation - limited to a maximum of 6 sessions (including any sessions to which items 14100 to 14118 and 30213 apply) in any 12 month period - for a session of at least 20 minutes duration
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$109.80
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