Changes to Video Consultations
MBS changes to Telehealth can be found at MBS Online.
Effective 1 January 2013
Further Changes to Video Consultations from 1 January 2013
Change to Telehealth geographical eligibility
On 1 January 2013 the geographical edibility criteria will be defined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) classification. To be eligible for Telehealth services patients will need to be outside of RA1 – Major Cities. Consultant physicians and paediatricians can still be anywhere in Australia when they provide a video consultation.
Note: These changes do not affect those exempt from geographical requirements, being Aged Care Facilities or patients of eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
Visit our Telehealth Eligible Areas page to determine if your patient is eligible for a Telehealth services.
Introduction of short Telehealth consultation items
On 1 January 2013 new MBS items were introduced for video consultations of ten minutes or less. These consultations will be approximately 50% of the initial video consultation. There is no change for the initial video consultation which are more than ten minutes long.
A brief fact sheet, provided by the Department of Health and Ageing, outlines these changes.
Effective 1 July 2012
Changes to Telehealth arrangements announced in the 2012-13 Federal Budget
Changes to the Telehealth incentive payments were introduced on 1 July 2012 to encourage genuine adoption of telehealth by practitioners, which should increase access to their services by eligible patients, and additionally ensure funding is targeted to patients most in need.
Changes announced in the Budget include:
- the introduction of a 15km minimum distance between the patient and specialist for MBS telehealth items;
- restructuring up-front financial incentives to better encourage ongoing service provision;
- formally ceasing financial incentives after 30 June 2014; and
- ceasing the training and support initiative after the current funding round.
Current Telehealth Incentives
The restructured incentive payment reduced to $4,800 in 2012/13. The first payment, on-board instalment, is paid after the first valid telehealth MBS claim is processed, and the second is paid after the tenth valid telehealth MBS claim is process by the DoHA.
| Incentive | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
|---|---|---|
| First Telehealth On-Board installment | $1,600 | $1,300 |
| Second Telehealth On-Board installment | $3,200 | $2,600 |
| Total On-Board Incentive | $4,800 | $3,900 |
NOTE:
There are no changes to the On-Board Incentive arrangements for Residential Aged Care Facilities.
The minimum distance requirement does not apply to residents of Aged Care Facilities or patients of an Aboriginal Medical Service.
All telehealth incentives formally cease on 30 June 2014.
A brief fact sheet, provided by the Department of Health and Ageing, outlines these changes. This is also available on-line at www.mbsonline.gov.au/telehealth.