Information from the Western Queensland PHN
Update 30 March 2020
COVID-19: New whole of population telehealth MBS items now available
For patients, general practice, primary care and other medical services including specialists and allied health.
On 29 March 2020, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, announced: Whole of population telehealth for patients, general practice, primary care and other medical services to support the response to COVID-19.
From 30 March 2020, telehealth (video-conference) and phone consultation items are available to all Australians. This is stage 4 of the COVID-19 response.
These items have been introduced to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 while providing continues access to essential primary health services.
The schedule fees for the bulk billing incentive items have been increased, to encourage medical practitioners to provide bulk-billed services to vulnerable patient groups.
- Bulk-billing incentives items are available for:
- medical services (items 10990, 10991 and 10992)
- diagnostic imaging services (items 64990 and 64991) and
- pathology services (74990 and 74991) for patients who are either under 16 years old, or who are a Commonwealth concessional beneficiary.
- General Practice telehealth item numbers are now available for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health assessments
- Chronic disease management plans and reviews
- Mental health including mental health care plans and reviews
- Eating disorder management
- Pregnancy support
- Autism management
- Urgent after hours unsociable
View or download a full list of COVID-19 bulk billed MBS Telehealth Services and changes.
View or download COVID-19 Telehealth Services Provider Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information visit the MBS Online website here.
Coronavirus apps and Whatsapp channel
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the new COVID-19 app and Whatsapp channel on Sunday, 29 March, to allow consumers to receive official health advice in one place. The app also provides advice on how to keep social distance to prevent the spread of the virus and to also check symptoms. Please share with your patients/clients/consumers.The apps are available for free through the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android devices.
To activate the Whatsapp channel, users have been told to visit aus.gov.au/whatsapp to launch the new feature.