Following cessation of the temporary telehealth arrangements on 30 June 2022, the following permanent telehealth arrangements for medical specialists and consultant physicians in Australia apply from 1 July 2022:

• A full range of services are catered for through 42 permanent telehealth video and 9 telephone items for specialists and consultant physicians.
• Telehealth services for initial and subsequent attendances are permanently rebated through the MBS where delivered by videoconference, and minor attendances are permanently rebated when delivered by telephone or videoconference. These ongoing telehealth items took effect on 1 January 2022.
• In line with this, MBS rebates for specialist services by phone will continue to be available, in the form of less complex or shorter subsequent consultations, and for consultations up to 45 minutes in duration for psychiatry. 
• The arrangements reflect an accepted clinical position that face to face and video services support better patient care and outcomes, and should be the preferred form of consultation with patients, particularly for initial and complex consultations.
• The Government has indicated it intends to defer to 1 October 2022, the implementation of the telephone specific 30/20 compliance rule which was to take effect on 1 July 2022.  

Additional information on the permanent telehealth items is available in the new Fact Sheet on the MBSOnline website MBS online - MBS Telehealth Services from 1 July 2022

If you have any questions in relation to this matter please direct these to the Medical Specialist Services Section via email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This news item was issued on 4 July 2022 by Jill Smith, CEO of ASCIA, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.