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March 2010

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Draft Administrative Position Statements (APS) for public comment

If you would like to provide Medicare Australia with your comments please email—APS.Feedback@medicareaustralia.gov.auEmail by the closing date.

All comments will be considered prior to finalisation of an APS.

The information collected will be used by Medicare Australia to assess feedback from providers. The collection of this information is authorised by the Health Insurance Act 1973. If the matters raised cannot be addressed by Medicare Australia then the information provided will be forwarded to the appropriate agency in a manner compliant with Section 14 of the Privacy Act 1988.

New drafts are added as they become available.

Reference number Issue Draft APS Issue date Closing date
 DPM10/08 What are the supervision requirements for items 12012, 12015, 12018 and 12021?

MBS items 12012, 12015, 12018 and 12021 (Patch Allergy Testing items) must be performed in accordance with accepted medical practice, under the supervision of the rendering medical practitioner.

Medicare Australia considers that the supervision requirements for MBS items 12012, 12015, 12018 and 12021 will be met if the supervising practitioner:

  • selects the allergens to be tested
  • interprets and conveys the results of testing
  • is immediately available to treat any adverse reactions that may occur

Background information on DPM10/08 [PDF, 26Kb]PDF reader required

Background information on DPM10/08 [RTF, 485Kb]

 27/11/2009 Comments closed
DPM13/08 To bill an exercise stress test under Medicare (MBS Item 11712), does the rendering medical practitioner have to be physically present with the patient for the duration of the test, being no less than 20 minutes?

The descriptor for Item 11712 requires the 'continuous attendance of a medical practitioner for not less than 20 minutes'. As MBS Item 11712 is not to be performed “on behalf of” the rendering medical practitioner by another medical practitioner, the rendering medical practitioner must personally attend to the patient whilst the service is being rendered, though other persons may provide essential assistance in rendering the service. For example, if, whilst the service is being rendered, the rendering medical practitioner has to leave the room for a brief period, the rendering practitioner can utilise the assistance of another medical practitioner to attend the patient during their absence and still fulfil the continuous attendance requirement.

Background information on DPM13/08 [PDF, 35Kb]PDF reader required

Background information on DPM13/08 [RTF, 501Kb]

 27/11/2009 Comments closed

DPM01/09

What is meant by 'personal attendance' in relation to items 12000 and 12003?

In relation to MBS items 12000 and 12003 (skin prick testing) a patient must be personally attended by the rendering medical practitioner, whether or not another person provides essential assistance to the medical practitioner in accordance with accepted medical practice.

Medicare Australia considers personal attendance of skin prick testing to be fulfilled if the medical practitioner:

  • selects the allergens to be tested
  • is with the patient at the time of the skin prick test
  • is immediately available to treat any adverse reactions that may occur
  • interprets the results of testing
  • conveys those results and their meaning to the patient

Background information on DPM01/09 [PDF, 30Kb]PDF reader required

Background information on DPM01/09 [RTF, 487Kb]

 27/11/2009 Comments closed

DPM02/09

Is a benefit payable for item 30071 if the biopsy specimen sent for pathological examination confirms the lesion is a seborrheic keratoses?

Medicare benefits are payable for MBS item 30071 if the biopsy specimen is sent for pathological examination, regardless of the diagnosis. This means that if a biopsy of skin is taken and pathological examination shows that the lesion is a seborrheic keratoses, Medicare benefits are payable under item 30071.

Background information on DPM02/09 [PDF, 24Kb]PDF reader required

Background information on DPM02/09 [RTF, 483Kb]

27/11/2009 Comments closed

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Last updated: 22 January, 2010