ANZAUS Responds to MBS Item Number Issue

ANZAUS Chair, A/Prof Troy Gianduzzo provides the following update on recent changes to MBS item numbers affecting USANZ Members and their patients.

The Department of Health and Aged Care (The Department) began a review of specialist procedural items with an 85% rebate in December 2023. The aim of this review was to remove the 85% rebate on procedures that are deemed should be performed only in hospital or a hospital equivalent setting.

USANZ / ANZAUS is aware that The Department has removed the 85% rebate for certain urological items and that these changes are impacting Members and their patients.

USANZ / ANZAUS have engaged with The Department, seeking an explanation for the removal of these items, and will continue to engage with The Department to advocate that the 85% rebate for certain items be reinstated. Reply correspondence from The Department indicated that the rebates had been removed for “clear cut reasons”. Further correspondence has been sent to the Assistant Secretary of The Department, asking to detail what the “clear cut” reasons were. We have been promised a response, but are yet to receive it.

This matter continues to evolve and will continue to be pursued. Further updates will be communicated to Members as the situation develops.