Achievements
MBS items 132 and 133
The AACP achieved a significant win for all consultant physicians and paediatricians in a relatively short period of time.
The AACP identified the need for Medicare items that appropriately recognised the time and skill of consultant physicians and paediatricians in treating patients with increasingly complex conditions. The Medicare Benefits Schedule was lacking items for patients with multiple morbidities, and the AACP sought to change this by introducing two new attendance items.
As a direct result of the AACP's September 2006 Submission and subsequent representations, the 2007 Federal Budget included $291.3 million specifically for two new attendance items for consultant physicians and paediatricians attending patients with two or more co-morbidities.
These two new items are designed to support you in addressing the needs of the increasing numbers of patients who present with chronic and complex conditions. The new items were introduced on Thursday 1 November 2007.
These were the first new attendance items for consultant physicians in over 20 years.
Item 132
- An initial attendance of at least 45 minutes duration to undertake a comprehensive assessment of a patient with at least two morbidities, and the development of a treatment and management plan.
- The schedule fee for this item is $249.40.
Item 133
- A subsequent attendance of at least 20 minutes duration to review the initial diagnoses, problems and responses to treatment, and to revise the treatment and management plan (if necessary).
- The schedule fee for this item is $124.85.
For further information on the use of MBS items 132 and 133 please see the Practice Information section of the website.
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