Speak Out April 2020 DIGITAL VERSION. pdf

MBS telehealth items as result of COVID-19

The Department of Health has announced that from 13 March 2020 to 30 September 2020 (inclusive) new temporary MBS telehealth items are available to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 and provide protection for patients and health care providers. Some of new temporary MBS telehealth items are available to speech pathologists.

Below is a summary of the existing MBS items and the new equivalent telehealth/telephone items that are available to speech pathologists. Additional information can be found at: MBS online, Covid 19 Telehealth MBS items It is important that if you are billing under these item codes you are familiar with the guidelines and notes about billing—you can search for details about each item code at www.mbsonline.gov.au.

ALLIED HEALTHATTENDANCES These services need to be bulk billed for vulnerable patients, concession card holders and children under 16 years, and are for non-admitted patients * Service Existing Items face to face Telehealth items/video conference Telephone items – for when video conferencing is not available Chronic disease management Speech pathology CDM service 10970 93000 93013 Autismmanagement

Speech pathology early intervention services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 13 years – assessment/ diagnosis item Speech pathology services for children with autism, pervasive developmental disorder or disability, under 15 years – treatment item

82005

93033

93041

82020

93036

93044

Follow-up Allied Health Services for people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent

Allied Follow-up CDM services (all 13 items)

81360

93048

93061

On 20 April, The Department of Health indicated that previous requirements to bulk bill under these new item numbers is no longer a legislative requirement. All MBS items for referred attendances require a valid referral. However, if you have previously seen the client under a referral that is still valid, there is no need to obtain a specific referral for the purposes of claiming the new temporary MBS telehealth items. Information about this announcement can be seen in the following Department of Health's press release (20 April 2020).

Please note that the above information is current as of 20 April 2020 and could change in response to an array of circumstances including the advocacy work that the Association is continuing to do at this time. Please continue to check MBS Online, the latest News for MBS Online and updates about Medicare, DVA and Private Health Funds page on the SPA website. It is also strongly recommended treating speech pathologists familiarise themselves with the following fact sheets on the MBS webpage : • Provider FAQs • Allied health telehealth services FAQ • Temporary MBS telehealth services FAQ • Consumer FAQ

Nichola Harris Manager Professional Practice

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April 2020 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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