On 1 March 2023, eight new MBS items were introduced for GPs to provide Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) to people other than the patient. There are face-to-face and telehealth (video and phone) items available, which are equivalent to existing items for providing FPS to patients.
These new MBS items recognise the important role another person, such as a family member or carer, can play in supporting patients with mental illness, and the benefits that can result from involving them in treatment.
These items can be used to provide up to two services to a person other than the patient per calendar year. Any services delivered using these items count towards the patient’s course of treatment and calendar allocations under the Better Access Initiative.
Charges related to these MBS items should be charged against the patient rather than the person who receives the service. The patient should not be in attendance while a GP provides this service to another person. If the patient is present during the attendance, the GP should consider billing an MBS item that would be applicable to the patient and fits the presentation better such as item 2721.
For further information on these items please see explanatory note AN.20.1and the MBS fact sheet.
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Item number
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Descriptor
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Rebate
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2739
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Professional attendance at consulting rooms by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician) registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 30 minutes, but less than 40 minutes
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$98.05
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2741
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Professional attendance at a place other than consulting rooms by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician) registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 30 minutes, but less than 40 minutes
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The fee for item 2739, plus $27.45 divided by the number of patients seen, up to a maximum of six patients. For seven or more patients - the fee for item 2739 plus $2.15 per patient.
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2743
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Professional attendance at consulting rooms by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician) registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 40 minutes
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$140.30
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2745
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Professional attendance at a place other than consulting rooms by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician) registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 40 minutes
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The fee for item 2743, plus $27.45 divided by the number of patients seen, up to a maximum of six patients. For seven or more patients - the fee for item 2743 plus $2.15 per patient
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91859
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Telehealth attendance by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician), registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies for assessed mental disorders to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 30 minutes but less than 40 minutes
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$98.05
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91861
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Telehealth attendance by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician), registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies for assessed mental disorders to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 40 minutes
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$140.30
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91864
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Phone attendance by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician), registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies for assessed mental disorders to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 30 minutes but less than 40 minutes
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$98.05
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91865
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Phone attendance by a general practitioner (not including a specialist or a consultant physician), registered with the Chief Executive Medicare as meeting the credentialling requirements for provision of this service:
- for providing focussed psychological strategies for assessed mental disorders to a person other than the patient, if the service is part of the patient’s treatment; and
- lasting at least 40 minutes
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$140.30
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