Summary
18 October 2018
The RACGP was invited to respond to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce – Recommendations from the Gastroenterology Clinical Committee (the Committee) review of colonoscopy MBS items.
Overall, the RACGP believes the proposed item numbers will allow greater monitoring, compliance and data collection of indications for colonoscopy. These proposed changes will assist in reducing over-servicing of unnecessary colonoscopies, especially for those without symptoms who are using it as an alternative to faecal occult blood test (FOBT), even if they do not meet criteria for being at increased risk of bowel cancer.