Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing

Medicare Benefits Schedule Book

Oral and Maxillofacial Services

Category 4

Operating from 01 July 2011

© Commonwealth of Australia 2011

Online ISBN: 978-1-74241-280-1
Print Copyright

This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without
prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the
Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or
posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca

Online Copyright

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your
personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights
are reserved. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration,
Attorney-General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Canberra ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca

Publications Approval Number: 6830

At the time of printing, the relevant legislation giving authority for the changes included in this edition of the book may still be subject to the approval of Executive Council and the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.  This book is not a legal document, and, in cases of discrepancy, the legislation will be the source document for payment of Medicare benefits.	

The latest Medicare Benefits Schedule information
is available from MBS Online at 
http://www.health.gov.au/mbsonline

TABLE OF CONTENTS

G.1.1.    The Medicare Benefits Schedule - Introduction
G.1.2.    Medicare - an outline
G.1.3.    Medicare benefits and billing practices
G.2.1.    Provider eligibility for Medicare
G.2.2.    Provider Numbers
G.2.3.    Locum tenens
G.2.4.    Overseas trained doctor
G.2.5.    Addresses of Medicare Australia, Schedule Interpretation and Changes to Provider Details
G.3.1.    Patient eligibility for Medicare
G.3.2.    Medicare cards
G.3.3.    Visitors to Australia and temporary residents
G.3.4.    Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
G.4.1.    General Practice
G.5.1.    Recognition as a Specialist or Consultant Physician
G.5.2.    Emergency Medicine
G.6.1.    Referral Of Patients To Specialists Or Consultant Physicians
G.7.1.    Billing procedures
G.8.1.    Provision for review of individual health professionals
G.8.2.    Medicare Participation Review Committee
G.8.3.    Referral of professional issues to regulatory and other bodies
G.8.4.    Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) - Quality Framework
G.8.5.    Medical Services Advisory Committee
G.8.6.    Pathology Services Table Committee
G.8.7.    Medicare Claims Review Panel
G.9.1.    Penalties and Liabilities
G.10.1.   Schedule fees and Medicare benefits
G.10.2.   Medicare safety nets
G.11.1.   Services not listed in the MBS
G.11.2.   Ministerial Determinations
G.12.1.   Professional services
G.12.2.   Services rendered on behalf of medical practitioners
G.12.3.   Mass immunisation
G.13.1.   Services which do not attract Medicare benefits
G.14.1.   Principles of interpretation of the MBS
G.14.2.   Services attracting benefits on an attendance basis
G.14.3.   Consultation and procedures rendered at the one attendance
G.14.4.   Aggregate items
G.14.5.   Residential aged care facility
G.15.1.   Practitioners should maintain adequate and contemporaneous records
OM.1.1.   Benefits for Medical Services Performed by Approved Dental Practitioners
OM.1.2.   Changes to the Scheme Effective from 1 November 2004
OM.2.1.   Definition of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
OM.2.2.   Services That Can Be Provided
OM.3.1.   Principles of Interpretation
OM.3.2.   Multiple Operation Rule
OM.3.3.   After Care (Post-operative Treatment)
OM.3.4.   Administration of Anaesthetics by Medical Practitioners
OM.4.1.   Consultations - (Items 51700 and 51703)
OM.4.2.   Assistance at Operations - (Items 51800 and 51803)
OM.4.3.   Repair of Wound - (Item 51900)
OM.4.4.   Lipectomy, Wedge Excision  - Two or More Excisions - (Item 51906)
OM.4.5.   Upper Aerodigestive Tract Endoscopic Procedure - (Item 52035)
OM.4.6.   Tumour, cyst, Ulcer or Scar - (Items 52036 to 52054)
OM.4.7.   Aspiration of Haematoma - (Item 52056)
OM.4.8.   Osteotomy of Jaw - (Items 52342 to 52375)
OM.4.9.   Genioplasty - (Item 52378)
OM.4.10.  Fracture of Mandible or Maxilla - (Items 53400 to 53439)
OM.4.11.  Skin Sensitivity Testing - (Item 53600)
OM.4.12.  Destruction of Nerve Branch by Neurolytic Agent - (Item 53706)
GROUP O1 - CONSULTATIONS
GROUP O2 - ASSISTANCE AT OPERATION
GROUP O3 - GENERAL SURGERY
GROUP O4 - PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE
GROUP O5 - PREPROSTHETIC
GROUP O6 - NEUROSURGICAL
GROUP O7 - EAR, NOSE & THROAT
GROUP O8 - TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT
GROUP O9 - TREATMENT OF FRACTURES
GROUP O10 - DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND INVESTIGATIONS
GROUP O11 - REGIONAL OR FIELD NERVE BLOCKS
INDEX

G.1.1.    The Medicare Benefits Schedule - Introduction
Schedules of Services
Each professional service contained in the book has been allocated a unique item number.  Located with the item number and description for each service is the Schedule fee and Medicare benefit, together with a reference to an explanatory note relating to the item (if applicable). 

If the service attracts an anaesthetic, the word (Anaes.) appears following the description. Where an operation qualifies for the payment of benefits for an assistant, the relevant items are identified by the inclusion of the word (Assist.) in the item description. Medicare benefits are not payable for surgical assistance associated with procedures which have not been so identified.

In some cases two levels of fees are applied to the same service in General Medical Services, with each level of fee being allocated a separate item number.  The item identified by the letter "S" applies in the case where the procedure has been rendered by a recognised specialist in the practice of his or her specialty and the patient has been referred.  The item identified by the letter "G" applies in any other circumstance.

Higher rates of benefits are also provided for consultations by a recognised consultant physician where the patient has been referred by another medical practitioner or an approved dental practitioner (oral surgeons). 

Differential fees and benefits also apply to services listed in Category 5 (Diagnostic Imaging Services). The conditions relating to these services are set out in Category 5.

Explanatory Notes
Explanatory notes relating to the Medicare benefit arrangements and notes that have general application to services are located at the beginning of the schedule, while notes relating to specific items are located at the beginning of each Category. While there may be a reference following the description of an item to specific notes relating to that item, there may also be general notes relating to each Group of items.

G.1.2.    Medicare - an outline
The Medicare Program (‘Medicare’) provides access to medical and hospital services for all Australian residents and certain categories of visitors to Australia.  Medicare Australia administers Medicare and the payment of Medicare benefits.  The major elements of Medicare are contained in the Health Insurance Act 1973, as amended, and include the following:
(a).	Free treatment for public patients in public hospitals.
(b).	The payment of ‘benefits’, or rebates, for professional services listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).  In general, the Medicare benefit is 85% of the Schedule fee, otherwise the benefits are
i.	100% of the Schedule fee for services provided by a general practitioner to non-referred, non-admitted patients;
ii.	100% of the Schedule fee for services provided on behalf of a general practitioner by a practice nurse or registered Aboriginal Health Worker; 
iii.	75% of the Schedule fee for professional services rendered to a patient as part of an episode of hospital treatment (other than public patients);
iv.	75% of the Schedule fee for professional services rendered as part of a privately insured episode of hospital-substitute treatment.

Medicare benefits are claimable only for ‘clinically relevant’ services rendered by an appropriate health practitioner.  A ‘clinically relevant’ service is one which is generally accepted by the relevant profession as necessary for the appropriate treatment of the patient.  

When a service is not clinically relevant, the fee and payment arrangements are a private matter between the practitioner and the patient.

Services listed in the MBS must be rendered according to the provisions of the relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory laws.  For example, medical practitioners must ensure that the medicines and medical devices they use have been supplied to them in strict accordance with the provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

Where a Medicare benefit has been inappropriately paid, Medicare Australia may request its return from the practitioner concerned. 

G.1.3.    Medicare benefits and billing practices
Key information on Medicare benefits and billing practices
The Health Insurance Act 1973 stipulates that Medicare benefits are payable for professional services.  A professional service is a clinically relevant service which is listed in the MBS.  A medical service is clinically relevant if it is generally accepted in the medical profession as necessary for the appropriate treatment of the patient.

Medical practitioners are free to set their fees for their professional service.  However, the amount specified in the patient’s account must be the amount charged for the service specified.  The fee may not include a cost of goods or services which are not part of the MBS service specified on the account.

Billing practices contrary to the Act
A non-clinically relevant service must not be included in the charge for a Medicare item.  The non-clinically relevant service must be separately listed on the account and not billed to Medicare.

Goods supplied for the patient’s home use (such as wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, continence pads) must not be included in the consultation charge.  Medicare benefits are limited to services which the medical practitioner provides at the time of the consultation – any other services must be separately listed on the account and must not be billed to Medicare.

Charging part of all of an episode of hospital treatment or a hospital substitute treatment to a non-admitted consultation is prohibited.  This would constitute a false or misleading statement on behalf of the medical practitioner and no Medicare benefits would be payable.

An account may not be re-issued to include charges and out-of-pocket expenses excluded in the original account.  The account can only be reissued to correct a genuine error.

Potential consequence of improperly issuing an account
The potential consequences for improperly issuing an account are
(a).	No Medicare benefits will be paid for the service;
(b).	The medical practitioner who issued the account, or authorised its issue, may face charges under sections 128A or 128B of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
(c).	Medicare benefits paid as a result of a false or misleading statement will be recoverable from the doctor under section 129AC of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Providers should be aware that Medicare Australia is legally obliged to investigate doctors suspected of making false or misleading statements, and may refer them for prosecution if the evidence indicates fraudulent charging to Medicare.  If Medicare benefits have been paid inappropriately or incorrectly, Medicare Australia will take recovery action.

G.2.1.    Provider eligibility for Medicare
To be eligible to provide medical service which will attract Medicare benefits, or to provide services for or on behalf of another practitioner, practitioners must meet one of the following criteria:
(a)	be a recognised specialist, consultant physician or general practitioner; or
(b)	be in an approved placement under section 3GA of the Health Insurance Act 1973; or 
(c)	be a temporary resident doctor with an exemption under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973, and working in accord with that exemption.

Any practitioner who does not satisfy the requirements outlined above may still practice medicine but their services will not be eligible for Medicare benefits.

NOTE: New Zealand citizens entering Australia do so under a special temporary entry visa and are regarded as temporary resident doctors.
NOTE:  It is an offence under Section 19CC of the Health Insurance Act 1973 to provide a service without first informing a patient where a Medicare benefit is not payable for that service (i.e. the service is not listed in the MBS).

Non-medical practitioners
To be eligible to provide services which will attract Medicare benefits under MBS items 10950-10977 and MBS items 80000-88000, allied health professionals, dentists, and dental specialists must be
(a)	registered according to State or Territory law or, absent such law, be members of a professional association with uniform national registration requirements; and  
(b)	registered with Medicare Australia to provide these services.

G.2.2.    Provider Numbers
Practitioners eligible to have Medicare benefits payable for their services and/or who for Medicare purposes wish to raise referrals for specialist services and requests for pathology or diagnostic imaging services, may apply in writing to Medicare Australia for a Medicare provider number for the locations where these services/referrals/requests will be provided.  The form may be downloaded from www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

For Medicare purposes, an account/receipt issued by a practitioner must include the practitioner’s name and either the provider number for the location where the service was provided or the address where the services were provided.

Medicare provider number information is released in accord with the secrecy provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (section 130) to authorized external organizations including private health insurers, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Health and Ageing.

When a practitioner ceases to practice at a given location they must inform Medicare promptly.  Failure to do so can lead to the misdirection of Medicare cheques and Medicare information.

Practitioners at practices participating in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) should use a provider number linked to that practice.  Under PIP, only services rendered by a practitioner whose provider number is linked to the PIP will be considered for PIP payments.

G.2.3.    Locum tenens
Where a locum tenens will be in a practice for more than two weeks or in a practice for less than two weeks but on a regular basis, the locum should apply for a provider number for the relevant location.  If the locum will be in a practice for less than two weeks and will not be returning there, they should contact Medicare Australia (provider liaison – 132 150) to discuss their options (for example, use one of the locum’s other provider numbers).

A locum must use the provider number allocated to the location if
(a)	they are an approved general practice or specialist trainee with a provider number issued for an approved training placement; or
(b)	they are associated with an approved rural placement under Section 3GA of the Health Insurance Act 1973; or
(c)	they have access to Medicare benefits as a result of the issue of an exemption under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (i.e. they have access to Medicare benefits at specific practice locations); or
(d)	they will be at a practice which is participating in the Practice Incentives Program; or
(e)	they are associated with a placement on the MedicarePlus for Other Medical Practitioners (OMPs) program, the After Hours OMPs program, the Rural OMPs program or Outer Metropolitan OMPs program.

G.2.4.    Overseas trained doctor
Ten year moratorium
Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 states that services provided by overseas trained doctors (including New Zealand trained doctors) and former overseas medical students trained in Australia, will not attract Medicare benefits for 10 years from either 
(a)	their date of registration as a medical practitioner for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973; or 
(b)	their date of permanent residency (the reference date will vary from case to case).  

Exclusions - Practitioners who before 1 January 1997 had 
(a)	registered with a State or Territory medical board and retained a continuing right to remain in Australia; or
(b)	lodged a valid application with the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to undertake examinations whose successful completion would normally entitle the candidate to become a medical practitioner.

The Minister of Health and Ageing may grant an overseas trained doctor (OTD) or occupational trainee (OT) an exemption to the requirements of the ten year moratorium, with or without conditions.  When applying for a Medicare provider number, the OTD or OT must
(a)	demonstrate that they need a provider number and that their employer supports their request; and
(b)	provide the following documentation:
i.	Australian medical registration papers; and
ii.	a copy of their personal details in their passport and all Australian visas and entry stamps; and
iii.	a letter from the employer stating why  the person requires a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number is required; and
iv.	a copy of the employment contract.

G.2.5.    Addresses of Medicare Australia, Schedule Interpretation and Changes to Provider Details

NEW SOUTH WALES
Medicare Australia Paramatta Office
130 George Street
PARRAMATTA NSW 2150
	VICTORIA
Medicare Australia Melbourne Office
Level 10
595 Collins Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000	QUEENSLAND
Medicare Australia Brisbane Office
143 Turbot Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000	
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 
Medicare Australia Adelaide Office
209 Greenhill Road
EASTWOOD SA 5063
	WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Medicare Australia Perth Office
Level 4
130 Stirling Street
PERTH  WA  6003
	TASMANIA
Medicare Australia Hobart Office
199 Collins Street
HOBART TAS 7000	
NORTHERN TERRITORY
As per South Australia
	AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Medicare Australia National Office
134 Reed Street North 
GREENWAY  ACT  2901

Schedule Interpretations
The day-to-day administration and payment of benefits under the Medicare arrangements is the responsibility of Medicare Australia.  Inquiries concerning matters of interpretation of Schedule items should be directed to Medicare Australia and not to the Department of Health and Ageing.  The following telephone numbers have been reserved by Medicare Australia exclusively for inquiries relating to the Schedule:

Provider Enquiries: 132 150
Public Enquiries: 132 011

Changes to Provider Details
It is important that Medicare Australia be notified promptly of changes to practice addresses to ensure correct provider details for each practice location.  Changes to practice address details can be made in writing to the Medicare Australia office, listed above, in the State of the practice location.

G.3.1.    Patient eligibility for Medicare
An "eligible person" is a person who resides permanently in Australia. This includes New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent residence visas.  Applicants for permanent residence may also be eligible persons, depending on circumstances.  Eligible persons must enrol with Medicare before they can receive Medicare benefits.

Medicare covers services provided only in Australia.  It does not refund treatment or evacuation expenses overseas.

G.3.2.    Medicare cards
The green Medicare card is for people permanently in Australia. Cards may be issued for individuals or families.

The blue Medicare card bearing the words “INTERIM CARD” is for people who have applied for permanent residence.

Visitors from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement receive a card bearing the words "RECIPROCAL HEALTH CARE"

G.3.3.    Visitors to Australia and temporary residents
Visitors and temporary residents in Australia are not eligible for Medicare and should therefore have adequate private health insurance. 

G.3.4.    Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Malta and Belgium.

Visitors from these countries are entitled to medically necessary treatment while they are in Australia, comprising public hospital care (as public patients), Medicare benefits and drugs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).  Visitors must enroll with Medicare Australia to receive benefits.  A passport is sufficient for public hospital care and PBS drugs.

Exceptions:
•	Visitors from Ireland and New Zealand are entitle to public hospital care and PBS drugs, and should present their passports before treatment as they are not issued with Medicare cards.
•	Visitors from Italy and Malta are covered for a period of six months only.

The Agreements do not cover treatment as a private patient in a public or private hospital.  People visiting Australia for the purpose of receiving treatment are not covered.

G.4.1.    General Practice
Some MBS items may only be used by general practitioners.  For MBS purposes a general practitioner is a medical practitioner who is
(a)	vocationally registered under section 3F of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (see General Explanatory Note below); or
(b)	a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP), who participates in, and meets the requirements for the RACGP Quality Assurance and Continuing Medical Education Program; or
(c)	a Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) who participates in, and meets the requirements for the ACRRM Quality Assurance and Continuing Medical Education Program; or
(d)	is undertaking an approved general practice placement in a training program for either the award of FRACGP or a training program recognised by the RACGP being of an equivalent standard; or
(e)	is undertaking an approved general practice placement in a training program for either the award of FACRRM or a training program recognised by ACRRM as being of an equivalent standard.

A medical practitioner seeking recognition as an FRACGP should apply to Medicare Australia, having completed an application form available from Medicare Australia’s website.  A general practice trainee should apply to General Practice Education and Training Limited (GPET) for a general practitioner trainee placement.  GPET will advise Medicare Australia when a placement is approved.  General practitioner trainees need to apply for a provider number using the appropriate provider number application form available on Medicare Australia’s website.

Vocational recognition of general practitioners
The only qualifications leading to vocational recognition are FRACGP and FACRRM.  The criteria for recognition as a GP are:
(a)	certification by the RACGP that the practitioner
•	is a Fellow of the RACGP; and
•	practice is, or will be within 28 days, predominantly in general practice; and
•	has met the minimum requirements of the RACGP for taking part in continuing medical education and quality assurance programs.

(b)	certification by the General Practice Recognition Eligibility Committee (GPREC) that the practitioner
•	is a Fellow of the RACGP; and
•	practice is, or will be within 28, predominantly in general practice; and
•	has met minimum requirements of the RACGP for taking part in continuing medical education and quality assurance programs.

(c)	certification by ACRRM that the practitioner
•	is a Fellow of ACRRM; and
•	has met the minimum requirements of the ACRRM for taking part in continuing medical education and quality assurance programs.

In assessing whether a practitioner’s medical practice is predominantly in general practice, the practitioner must have at least 50% of clinical time and services claimed against Medicare. Regard will also be given as to whether the practitioner provides a comprehensive primary medical service, including treating a wide range of patients and conditions using a variety of accepted medical skills and techniques, providing services away from the practitioner's surgery on request, for example, home visits and making appropriate provision for the practitioner's patients to have access to after hours medical care.

Further information on eligibility for recognition should be directed to: 	

Program Relations Officer, RACGP
Tel: (03) 8699 0494 	Email at: qacpd@racgp.org.au

Secretary, General Practice Recognition Eligibility Committee:  	
Tel: (02) 6124 6753   Email at co.medicare.eligibility@medicareaustralia.gov.au

Executive Assistant, ACRRM:
Tel: (07) 3105 8200 	Email at acrrm@acrrm.org.au

How to apply for vocational recognition
Medical practitioners seeking vocational recognition should apply to Medicare Australia using the approved Application Form available on the Medicare Australia website: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.  Applicants should forward their applications, as appropriate, to

Chief Executive Officer
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
College House						
1 Palmerston Crescent					
SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205				

Chief Executive Officer
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
GPO Box 2507
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Secretary
The General Practice Recognition Eligibility Committee
Medicare Australia
PO Box 1001
TUGGERANONG ACT 2901

The relevant body will forward the application together with its certification of eligibility to the Medicare Australia CEO for processing.  

Continued vocational recognition is dependent upon:
(a)	the practitioner’s practice continuing to be predominantly in general practice (for medical practitioners in the Register only);  and
(b)	the practitioner continuing to meet minimum requirements for participation in continuing professional development programs approved by the RACGP or the ACRRM.

Further information on continuing medical education and quality assurance requirements should be directed to the RACGP or the ACRRM depending on the college through which the practitioner is pursuing, or is intending to pursue, continuing medical education. 

Medical practitioners refused certification by the RACGP, the ACRRM or GPREC may appeal in writing to the General Practice Recognition Appeal Committee (GPRAC), Medicare Australia, PO Box 1001, Tuggeranong, ACT, 2901.

Removal of vocational recognition status
A medical practitioner may at any time request Medicare Australia to remove their name from the Vocational Register of General Practitioners.

Vocational recognition status can also be revoked if the RACGP, the ACRRM or GPREC certifies to Medicare Australia that it is no longer satisfied that the practitioner should remain vocationally recognised.  Appeals of the decision to revoke vocational recognition may be made in writing to GPRAC, at the above address.  

A practitioner whose name has been removed from the register, or whose determination has been revoked for any reason must make a formal application to re-register, or for a new determination.

G.5.1.    Recognition as a Specialist or Consultant Physician
A medical practitioner who:
•	is registered as a specialist under State or Territory law; or
•	holds a fellowship of a specified specialist College and has obtained, after successfully completing an appropriate course of study, a relevant qualification from a relevant College
and has formally applied and paid the prescribed fee, may be recognised by the Minister as a specialist or consultant physician for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

A relevant specialist College may also give Medicare Australia’s Chief Executive Officer a written notice stating that a medical practitioner meets the criteria for recognition.

A medical practitioner who is training for a fellowship of a specified specialist College and is undertaking training placements in a private hospital or in general practice, may provide services which attract Medicare rebates.  Specialist trainees should consult the information available at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.

Once the practitioner is recognised as a specialist or consultant physician for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973, Medicare benefits will be payable at the appropriate higher rate for services rendered in the relevant speciality, provided the patient has been appropriately referred to them.

Further information about applying for recognition is available at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.

G.5.2.    Emergency Medicine
A practitioner will be acting as an emergency medicine specialist when treating a patient within 30 minutes of  the patient’s presentation, and that patient is
(a)	at risk of serious morbidity or mortality requiring urgent assessment and resuscitation; or
(b)	suffering from suspected acute organ or system failure; or
(c)	suffering from an illness or injury where the viability or function of a body part or organ is acutely threatened; or
(d) 	suffering from a drug overdose, toxic substance or toxin effect; or
(e)	experiencing severe psychiatric disturbance whereby the health of the patient or other people is at immediate risk; or
(f)	suffering acute severe pain where the viability or function of a body part or organ is suspected to be acutely threatened; or
(g)	suffering acute significant haemorrhage requiring urgent assessment and treatment; and 
(h)	treated in, or via, a bona fide emergency department in a hospital.

Benefits are not payable where such services are rendered in the accident and emergency departments or outpatient departments of public hospitals.

G.6.1.    Referral Of Patients To Specialists Or Consultant Physicians
For certain services provided by specialists and consultant physicians, the Medicare benefit payable is dependent on acceptable evidence that the service has been provided following referral from another practitioner.

A reference to a referral in this Section does not refer to written requests made for pathology services or diagnostic imaging services.

What is a Referral?
A "referral" is a request to a specialist or a consultant physician for investigation, opinion, treatment and/or management of a condition or problem of a patient or for the performance of a specific examination(s) or test(s).

Subject to the exceptions in the paragraph below, for a valid "referral" to take place
(i)	the referring practitioner must have undertaken a professional attendance with the patient and turned his or her mind to the patient's need for referral and have communicated relevant information about the patient to the specialist or consultant physician (this need not mean an attendance on the occasion of the referral); 
(ii)	the instrument of referral must be in writing as a letter or note to a specialist or to a consultant physician and must be signed and dated by the referring practitioner; and
(iii)	the specialist or consultant physician to whom the patient is referred must have received the instrument of referral on or prior to the occasion of the professional service to which the referral relates.

The exceptions to the requirements in paragraph above are that
(a) sub-paragraphs (i),(ii) and (iii) do not apply to
	- a pre-anaesthesia consultation by a specialist anaesthetist (items 16710-17625);
(b) sub‑paragraphs (ii) and (iii) do not apply to
-	a referral generated during an episode of hospital treatment, for a service provided or arranged by that hospital, where the hospital records provide evidence of a referral (including the referring practitioner's signature); or 
-	an emergency where the referring practitioner or the specialist or the consultant physician was of the opinion that the service be rendered as quickly as possible; and
(c) sub‑paragraph (iii) does not apply to instances where a written referral was completed by a referring practitioner but was lost, stolen or destroyed.

Examination by Specialist Anaesthetists
A referral  is not required in the case of  pre-anaesthesia consultation items 17610-17625. However, for benefits to be payable at the specialist rate for consultations, other than pre-anaesthesia consultations by specialist anaesthetists (items 17640 -17655) a referral is required.

Who can Refer?
The general practitioner is regarded as the primary source of referrals.  Cross-referrals between specialists and/or consultant physicians should usually occur in consultation with the patient's general practitioner.

Referrals are to be made as follows:-
(a)	to a recognised consultant physician ‑ 
(i)	by another medical practitioner; or
(ii)	by an approved dental practitioner 1 (oral surgeon), where the referral arises out of a dental service;
(b)	to a recognised specialist ‑
(i)	by another medical practitioner; or
(ii)	by a registered dental practitioner 2, where the referral arises out of a dental service; or
(iii)	by a registered optometrist where the specialist is an ophthalmologist.
1	See paragraph OB.1 for the definition of an approved dental practitioner.
2	A registered dental practitioner is a dentist registered with the Dental Board of the State or Territory where s/he practices. A registered dental practitioner may or may not be an approved dental practitioner.

Billing 
Routine Referrals
In addition to providing the usual information required to be shown on accounts, receipts or assignment forms, specialists and consultant physicians must provide the following details (unless there are special circumstances as indicated in paragraph below):-
•	-	name and either practice address or provider number of the referring practitioner;
•	-	date of referral; and
•	-	period of referral (when other than for 12 months) expressed in months, eg "3", "6" or "18" months, or "indefinitely" should be shown.
  
Special Circumstances
(i) Lost, stolen or destroyed referrals.
If a referral has been made but the letter or note of referral has been lost, stolen or destroyed, benefits will be payable at the referred rate if the account, receipt or the assignment form shows the name of the referring medical practitioner, the practice address or provider number of the referring practitioner (if either of these are known to the consultant physician or specialist) and the words 'Lost referral'.  This provision only applies to the initial attendance.  For subsequent attendances to attract Medicare benefits at the referred rate a duplicate or replacement letter of referral must be obtained by the specialist or the consultant physician.

(ii) Emergencies
If the referral occurred in an emergency, benefit will be payable at the referred rate if the account, receipt or assignment form is endorsed 'Emergency referral'.  This provision only applies to the initial attendance.  For subsequent attendances to attract Medicare benefits at the referred rate the specialist/consultant physician must obtain a letter of referral.

(iii) Hospital referrals. 
Private Patients - Where a referral is generated during an episode of hospital treatment for a service provided or arranged by that hospital, benefits will be payable at the referred rate if the account, receipt or assignment form is endorsed 'Referral within (name of hospital)' and the patient's hospital records show evidence of the referral (including the referring practitioner's signature). However, in other instances where a medical practitioner within a hospital is involved in referring a patient (e.g. to a specialist or a consultant physician in private rooms) the normal referral arrangements apply, including the requirement for a referral letter or note and its retention by the specialist or the consultant physician billing for the service.

Public Hospital Patients 
State and Territory Governments are responsible for the provision of public hospital services to eligible persons in accordance with the National Healthcare Agreement.

Bulk Billing
Bulk billing assignment forms should show the same information as detailed above.   However, faster processing of the claim will be facilitated where the provider number (rather than the practice address) of the referring practitioner is shown.

Period for which Referral is Valid
The referral is valid for the period specified in the referral which is taken to commence on the date of the specialist’s or consultant physician’s first service covered by that referral.

Specialist Referrals
Where a referral originates from a specialist or a consultant physician, the referral is valid for 3 months, except where the referred patient is an admitted patient.  For admitted patients, the referral is valid for 3 months or the duration of the admission whichever is the longer.

As it is expected that the patient’s general practitioner will be kept informed of the patient’s progress, a referral from a specialist or a consultant physician must include the name of the patient’s general practitioners and/or practice. Where a patient is unable or unwilling to nominate a general practitioner or practice this must be stated in the referral.

Referrals by other Practitioners
Where the referral originates from a practitioner other than those listed in Specialist Referrals, the referral is valid for a period of 12 months, unless the referring practitioner indicates that the referral is for a period more or less than 12 months (eg. 3, 6 or 18 months or valid indefinitely). Referrals for longer than 12 months should only be used where the patient’s clinical condition requires continuing care and management of a specialist or a consultant physician for a specific condition or specific conditions.

Definition of a Single Course of Treatment
A single course of treatment involves an initial attendance by a specialist or consultant physician and the continuing management/treatment up to the stage where the patient is referred back to the care of the referring practitioner.  It also includes any subsequent review of the patient's condition by the specialist or the consultant physician that may be necessary. Such a review may be initiated by either the referring practitioner or the specialist/consultant physician.

The presentation of an unrelated illness, requiring the referral of the patient to the specialist's or the consultant physician's care would initiate a new course of treatment in which case a new referral would be required.

The receipt by a specialist or consultant physician of a new referral following the expiration of a previous referral for the same condition(s) does not necessarily indicate the commencement of a new course of treatment involving the itemisation of an initial consultation.  In the continuing management/treatment situation the new referral is to facilitate the payment of benefits at the specialist or the consultant physician referred rates rather than the unreferred rates.

However, where the referring practitioner:-
(a)	deems it necessary for the patient's condition to be reviewed; and
(b)	the patient is seen by the specialist or the consultant physician outside the currency of the last referral; and
(c)	the patient was last seen by the specialist or the consultant physician more than 9 months earlier
the attendance following the new referral initiates a new course of treatment for which Medicare benefit would be payable at the initial consultation rates.

Retention of Referral Letters
The prima facie evidence that a valid referral exists is the provision of the referral particulars on the specialist's or the consultant physician's account.

A specialist or a consultant physician is required to retain the instrument of referral (and a hospital is required to retain the patient's hospital records which show evidence of a referral) for 18 months from the date the service was rendered.

A specialist or a consultant physician is required, if requested by the Medicare Australia CEO, to produce to a medical practitioner who is an employee of Medicare Australia, the instrument of referral within seven days after the request is received.  Where the referral originates in an emergency situation or in a hospital, the specialist or consultant physician is required to produce such information as is in his or her possession or control relating to whether the patient was so treated.

Attendance for Issuing of a Referral
Medicare benefit is attracted for an attendance on a patient even where the attendance is solely for the purpose of issuing a referral letter or note.  However, if a medical practitioner issues a referral without an attendance on the patient, no benefit is payable for any charge raised for issuing the referral.

Locum‑tenens Arrangements
It should be noted that where a non-specialist medical practitioner acts as a locum‑tenens for a specialist or consultant physician, or where a specialist acts as a locum‑tenens for a consultant physician, Medicare benefit is only payable at the level appropriate for the particular locum‑tenens, eg, general practitioner level for a general practitioner locum‑tenens and specialist level for a referred service rendered by a specialist locum tenens.

Medicare benefits are not payable where a practitioner is not eligible to provide services attracting Medicare benefits acts as a locum-tenens for any practitioner who is eligible to provide services attracting Medicare benefits.  

Fresh referrals are not required for locum‑tenens acting according to accepted medical practice for the principal of a practice ie referrals to the latter are accepted as applying to the former and benefit is not payable at the initial attendance rate for an attendance by a locum‑tenens if the principal has already performed an initial attendance in respect of the particular instrument of referral.

Self Referral
Medical practitioners may refer themselves to consultant physicians and specialists and Medicare benefits are payable at referred rates.

Referrals by Dentists or Optometrists
For Medicare benefit purposes, a referral may be made to
(i)	a recognised specialist:
(a)	by a registered dental practitioner, where the referral arises from a dental service; or
(b)	by a registered optometrist where the specialist is an ophthalmologist; or
(ii)	a consultant physician, by an approved dental practitioner (oral surgeon), where the referral arises out of a dental service. 

In any other circumstances (i.e. a referral to a consultant physician by a dentist, other than an approved oral surgeon, or an optometrist, or a referral by an optometrist to a specialist other than a specialist ophthalmologist), it is not a valid referral.  Any resulting consultant physician or specialist attendances will attract Medicare benefits at unreferred rates.

Registered dentists and registered optometrists may refer themselves to specialists in accordance with the criteria above, and Medicare benefits are payable at the levels which apply to their referred patients.

G.7.1.    Billing procedures
Itemised Accounts
Where the doctor bills the patient for medical services rendered, the patient needs a properly itemised account/receipt to claim   Medicare benefits.

Under the provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973 and Regulations, a Medicare benefit is not payable for a professional service unless it is recorded on the account setting out the fee for the service or on the receipt for the fee in respect of the service, the following particulars
(i)		patient's name;
(ii)	the date the professional service was rendered;
(iii)	the amount charged for the service;
(iv)	the total amount paid in respect of the service;
(v)	any amount outstanding in respect of the service;
(vi)		for professional services rendered to a patient as part of an episode of hospital treatment; an asterisk '*' directly after an item number where used; or a description of the professional service sufficient to identify the item that relates to that service,  preceded by the words 'admitted patient' ;
(vii)		for professional services rendered as part of a privately insured episode of hospital-substitute treatment and the patient who receives the treatment chooses to receive a benefit from a private health insurer, the words ‘hospital-substitute treatment’ directly after an item number where used; or a description of the professional service sufficient to identify the item that relates to that service, preceded by the words ‘hospital-substitute treatment’;
(viii)		the name and practice address or name and provider number of the practitioner who actually rendered the service; (where the practitioner has more than one practice location recorded with Medicare Australia, the provider number used should be that which is applicable to the practice location at or from which the service was given); 
(ix)		the name and practice address or name and provider number of the practitioner claiming or receiving payment of benefits, or assignment of benefit:‑
•	-	for services in Groups A1 to A14, D1, T1, T4 to T9 of the General Medical Services, Groups O1 to O7 (Oral and Maxillofacial services), and Group P9 of Pathology ‑ where the person claiming payment is NOT the person who rendered the service;
•	-	for services in Groups D2, T2, T3, I2, to I5 ‑ for every service;
(x)		if the service was a Specified Simple Basic Pathology Test (listed in Category 6 ‑ Pathology, Group P9 of the Schedule) that was determined necessary by a practitioner who is another member of the same group medical practice, the surname and initials of that other practitioner;
(xi)		where a practitioner has attended the patient on more than one occasion on the same day and on each occasion rendered a professional service to which an item in Category 1 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule relates (i.e. professional attendances), the time at which each such attendance commenced; and
(xii)		where the professional service was rendered by a consultant physician or a specialist in the practice of his/her speciality to a patient who has been referred:‑ (a) the name of the referring medical practitioner; (b) the address of the place of practice or provider number for that place of practice; (c) the date of the referral; and (d) the period of referral (where other than for 12 months) expressed in months, e.g. "3", "6" or "18" months, or "indefinitely".

NOTE: If the information required to be recorded on accounts, receipts or assignment of benefit forms is included by an employee of the practitioner, the practitioner claiming payment for the service bears responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the information. 

Practitioners should note that payment of claims could be delayed or disallowed where it is not possible from account details to clearly identify the service as one which qualifies for Medicare benefits, or the practitioner as a registered medical practitioner at the address the service was rendered.  Practitioners are therefore encouraged to provide as much detail as possible on their accounts, including Medicare Benefits Schedule item number and provider number.

The Private Health Insurance Act 2007 provides for the payment of private health insurance benefits for hospital treatment and general treatment. Hospital treatment is treatment that is intended to manage a disease, injury or condition that is provided to a person by a hospital or arranged with the direct involvement of a hospital. General treatment is treatment that is intended to manage or prevent a disease, injury or condition and is not hospital treatment. Hospital-substitute treatment is a sub-set of General Treatment and a direct substitute for an episode of hospital treatment. Health insurers can cover specific professional services as hospital-substitute treatment in accordance with the Private Health Insurance (Health Insurance Business) Rules.

Claiming of Benefits
The patient, upon receipt of a doctor's account, has three courses open for paying the account and receiving benefits.

Paid Accounts
The patient may pay the account and subsequently present the receipt at a Medicare customer service centre for assessment and payment of the Medicare benefit in cash.

In these circumstances, where a claimant personally attends a Medicare office to obtain a cash or EFT deposit for the payment of Medicare benefits, the claimant is not required to complete a Medicare Patient Claim Form (PC1).

A Medicare patient claim form (PC1) must be completed where the claimant is mailing his/her claim for a cheque or EFT payment of Medicare benefits or arranging for an agent to collect cash on the claimant’s behalf at a Medicare office.

Alternatively a patient may lodge their claim electronically from the doctors’ surgery using Medicare Australia’s Online claiming.

Claims for professional services rendered as part of an episode of hospital-substitute treatment should be submitted to the health insurer in the first instance for the payment of private health insurance benefits. The insurer of the patient will forward the claim to Medicare Australia for the payment of Medicare benefits

Unpaid and Partially Paid Accounts
Where the patient has not paid the account, the unpaid account may be presented to Medicare with a Medicare claim form. In this case Medicare will forward to the claimant a benefit cheque made payable to the doctor.

It will be the patient's responsibility to forward the cheque to the doctor and make arrangements for payment of the balance of the account if any. "Pay doctor" cheques involving Medicare benefits, must (by law), not be sent direct to medical practitioners or to patients at a doctor’s address (even when the claimant requests this). “Pay doctor” cheques are required to be forwarded to the claimant’s last known address.

When issuing a receipt to a patient for an account that is being paid wholly or in part by a Medicare "pay doctor" cheque the medical practitioner should indicate on the receipt that a "Medicare" cheque for $...... was included in the payment of the account.

Where a patient has reached the relevant extended Medicare safety net threshold, the Medicare benefit payable is the Medicare rebate for the service plus 80% of the out-of-pocket cost of the service (ie difference between the fee charged by the doctor and the Medicare rebate). The patient must pay at least 20% of the out-of-pocket cost of the account before extended Medicare safety net benefits become payable for the out-of-pocket cost. Medicare will apportion the benefit accordingly.

Claims for professional services rendered as part of an episode of hospital-substitute treatment should be submitted to the health insurer in the first instance for the payment of private health insurance benefits. The insurer of the patient will forward the claim to Medicare Australia for the payment of Medicare benefits.

Assignment of Benefit (Direct – Billing) Arrangements
Under the Health Insurance Act an Assignment of Benefit (direct-billing) facility for professional services is available to all persons in Australia who are eligible for benefit under the Medicare program. This facility is NOT confined to pensioners or people in special need.  

If a medical practitioner direct-bills, he/she undertakes to accept the relevant Medicare benefit as full payment for the service. Additional charges for that service (irrespective of the purpose or title of the charge) cannot be raised against the patient, with the exception of certain vaccines. 

Under these arrangements:‑
•	the patient's Medicare number must be quoted on all direct‑bill assignment forms for that patient;
•	the assignment forms provided are loose leaf to enable the patient details to be imprinted from the Medicare Card;
•	the forms include information required by Regulations under Section 19(6) of the Health Insurance Act;
•	the doctor must cause the particulars relating to the professional service to be set out on the assignment form, before the patient signs the form and cause the patient to receive a copy of the form as soon as practicable after the patient signs it;

Where a patient is unable to sign the assignment form: 
•	the signature of the patient's parent, guardian or other responsible person (other than the doctor, doctor's staff, hospital proprietor, hospital staff, residential aged care facility proprietor or residential aged care facility staff) is acceptable; or
•	In the absence of a "responsible person" the patient signature section should be left blank. 

Where the signature space is either left blank or another person signs on the patient's behalf, the form must include:
•	the notation “Patient unable to sign” and  
•	in the section headed 'Practitioner's Use', an explanation should be given as to why the patient was unable to sign (e.g. unconscious, injured hand etc.) and this note should be signed or initialled by the doctor.  If in the opinion of the practitioner the reason is of such a "sensitive" nature that revealing it would constitute an unacceptable breach of patient confidentiality or unduly embarrass or distress the recipient of the patient's copy of the assignment of benefits form, a concessional reason "due to medical condition" to signify that such a situation exists may be substituted for the actual reason.  However, this should not be used routinely and in most cases it is expected that the reason given will be more specific.

Where the patient is direct-billed, an additional charge can ONLY be raised against the patient by the practitioner where the patient is provided with a vaccine/vaccines from the practitioner’s own supply held on the practitioner’s premises.  This exemption only applies to general practitioners and other non-specialist practitioners in association with attendance items 3 to 96, 5000 to 5267 (inclusive) and item 10993 and only relates to vaccines that are not available to the patient free of charge through Commonwealth or State funding arrangements or available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.  The additional charge must only be to cover the supply of the vaccine.

Use of Medicare Cards in Direct Billing
The Medicare card plays an important part in direct billing as it can be used to imprint the patient details (including Medicare number) on the assignment forms.   A special Medicare imprinter is used for this purpose and is available free of charge, on request, from Medicare.

The patient details can, of course, be entered on the assignment forms by hand, but the use of a card to imprint patient details assists practitioners and ensures accuracy of information.  The latter is essential to ensure that the processing of a claim by Medicare is expedited.

The Medicare card number must be quoted on assignment forms.  If the number is not available, then the direct-billing facility should not be used.  To do so would incur a risk that the patient may not be eligible and Medicare benefits not payable. 

Where a patient presents without a Medicare card and indicates that he/she has been issued with a card but does not know the details, the practitioner may contact a Medicare telephone enquiry number to obtain the number.

It is important for the practitioner to check the eligibility of patients to Medicare benefits by reference to the card, as enrolees have entitlement limited to the date shown on the card and some enrolees, eg certain visitors to Australia, have restricted access to Medicare (see paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5).

Assignment of Benefit Forms
To meet varying requirements the following types of stationery are available from Medicare Australia.   Note that these are approved forms under the Health Insurance Act, and no other forms can be used to assign benefits without the approval of Medicare Australia. 
 	(1)	Form DB2-GP.  This form is designed for the use of optical scanning equipment and is used to assign benefits for General Practitioner Services other than requested pathology, specialist and optometrical services.  It is loose leaf for imprinting and comprises a throw away cover sheet (after imprinting), a Medicare copy, a Practitioner copy and a Patient copy.  There are 4 pre-printed items with provision for two other items. The form can also be used as an "offer to assign" when a request for pathology services is sent to an approved pathology practitioner and the patient does not attend the laboratory.
(2)	Form DB2-OP.  This form is designed for the use of optical scanning equipment and is used to assign benefits for optometrical services.  It is loose leaf to enable imprinting of patient details from the Medicare card and is similar in most respects to Form DB2-GP, except for content variations.  This form may not be used as an offer to assign pathology services.
(3)	Form DB2-OT.  This form is designed for the use of optical scanning equipment and is used to assign benefits for all specialist services.  It is loose leaf to enable imprinting of patient details from the Medicare card and is similar in most respects to Form DB2-GP, except for content variations.   There are no pre-printed items on this form.
 	(4)	Form DB3.  This is used to assign or offer to assign benefits for pathology tests rendered by approved pathology practitioners.  It is loose leaf to enable imprinting of patient details from the Medicare card and is similar in most respects to Form DB2, except for content variations.  The form may not be used for services other than pathology.
(5)	Form DB4.  This is a continuous stationery version of the DB2, and has been designed for use on most office accounting machines.
(6)	Form DB5.  This is a continuous stationery form for pathology services which can be used on most office machines.  It cannot be used to assign benefits and must therefore be accompanied by an offer to assign (Form DB2, DB3 or DB4) or other form approved by Medicare Australia for that purpose.

The Claim for Assigned Benefits (Form DB1N, DB1H)
Practitioners who accept assigned benefits must claim from Medicare using either Claim for Assigned Benefits form DB1N or DB1H.  The DB1N form should be used where services are rendered to persons for treatment provided out of hospital or day hospital treatment.  The DB1H form should be used where services are rendered to persons while hospital treatment is provided in a hospital or day hospital facility (other than public patients).  Both forms have been designed to enable benefit for a claim to be directed to a practitioner other than the one who rendered the services.  The facility is intended for use in situations such as where a short term locum is acting on behalf of the principal doctor and setting the locum up with a provider number and pay‑group link for the principal doctor's practice is impractical.  Practitioners should note that this facility cannot be used to generate payments to or through a person who does not have a provider number. 

Each claim form must be accompanied by the assignment forms to which the claim relates.

The DB1N and DB1H are also loose leaf to enable imprinting of practitioner details using the special Medicare imprinter. For this purpose, practitioner cards, showing the practitioner's name, practice address and provider number are available from Medicare on request.

Direct‑Bill Stationery (Forms DB6Ba & DB6Bb)
Medical practitioners wishing to direct‑bill may obtain information on direct‑bill stationery by telephoning 132150.
•	-	Form DB6Ba.  This form is used to order larger stocks of forms DB3, DB4 and DB5 (and where a practitioner uses these forms, DB1N and DB1H), kits for optical scanning stationery (which comprises DB2’s (GP, OP and OT)), DB1’s pre addressed envelopes and an instruction sheet for the use of direct-bill scanning stationery.
•	-	Form DB6Bb.  This form is used to order stocks of forms and additional products (including Medicare Safety Net forms and promotional material).  These forms are available from Medicare. 

Time Limits Applicable to Lodgement of Claims for Assigned Benefits 
A time limit of two years applies to the lodgement of claims with Medicare under the direct‑billing (assignment of benefits) arrangements.  This means that Medicare benefits are not payable for any service where the service was rendered more than two years earlier than the date the claim was lodged with Medicare.

Provision exists whereby in certain circumstances (eg hardship cases, third party workers' compensation cases), the Minister may waive the time limits.   Special forms for this purpose are available, if required, from the processing centre to which assigned claims are directed.  

G.8.1.    Provision for review of individual health professionals
The Professional Services Review (PSR) reviews and investigates service provision by health practitioners to determine if they have engaged in inappropriate practice when rendering or initiating Medicare services, or when prescribing or dispensing under the PBS.

Section 82 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 defines inappropriate practice as conduct that is such that a PSR Committee could reasonably conclude that it would be unacceptable to the general body of the members of the profession in which the practitioner was practicing when they rendered or initiated the services under review.  It is also an offence under Section 82 for a person or officer of a body corporate to knowingly, recklessly or negligently cause or permit a practitioner employed by the person to engage in such conduct.

Medicare Australia monitors health practitioners’ claiming patterns. Where Medicare Australia detects an anomaly, it may request the Director of PSR to review the practitioner’s service provision.  On receiving the request, the Director must decide whether to a conduct a review and in which manner the review will be conducted.  The Director is authorized to require that documents and information be provided.

Following a review, the Director must:
(a)	decide to take no further action; or
(b)	enter into an agreement with the person under review (which must then be ratified by an independent Determining Authority); or
(c)	refer the matter to a PSR Committee.

A PSR Committee normally comprises three medically qualified members, two of whom must be members of the same profession as the practitioner under review.  However, up to two additional Committee members may be appointed to provide wider range of clinical expertise.

The Committee is authorized to:
(a)	investigate any aspect of the provision of the referred services, and without being limited by the reasons given in the review request or by a Director’s report following the review;
(b)	hold hearings and require the person under review to attend and give evidence;
(c)	require the production of documents (including clinical notes). 

The methods available to a PSR Committee to investigate and quantify inappropriate practice are specified in legislation:
(a)	Patterns of Services - The Health Insurance (Professional Services Review) Regulations 1999 specify that when a general practitioner or other medical practitioner reaches or exceeds 80 or more attendances on each of 20 or more days in a 12-month period, they are deemed to have practiced inappropriately.

(i)	A professional attendance means a service of a kind mentioned in group A1, A2, A5, A6, A7, A9, A11, A13, A14, A15, A16, A17, A18, A19, A20, A21, A22 or A23 of Part 3 of the General Medical Services Table.

(ii)	If the practitioner can satisfy the PSR Committee that their pattern of service was as a result of exceptional circumstances, the quantum of inappropriate practice is reduce accordingly.  Exceptional circumstances include, but are not limited to, those set out in the Regulations.  These include: 

a.	an unusual occurrence; 
b.	the absence of other medical services for the practitioner’s patients (having regard to the practice location); and 
c.	the characteristics of the patients.

(b)	Sampling - A PSR Committee may use statistically valid methods to sample the clinical or practice records.

(c)	Generic findings - If a PSR Committee cannot use patterns of service or sampling (for example, there are insufficient medical records), it can make a ‘generic’ finding of inappropriate practice.

Additional Information
A PSR Committee may not make a finding of inappropriate practice unless it has given the person under review notice of its intention to review them, the reasons for its findings, and an opportunity to respond.  In reaching their decision, a PSR Committee is required to consider whether or not the practitioner has kept adequate and contemporaneous patient records (See general explanatory note G15.1 for more information on adequate and contemporaneous patient records).

The practitioner under review is permitted to make submissions to the PSR Committee before key decisions or a final report is made.

If a PSR Committee finds that the person under review has engaged in inappropriate practice, the findings will be reported to the Determining Authority to decide what action should be taken:
(i)	a reprimand;
(ii)	counselling;
(iii)	repayment of Medicare benefits; and/or 
(iv)	complete or partial disqualification from Medicare benefit arrangements for up to three years. 

Further information is available from the PSR website - www.psr.gov.au

G.8.2.    Medicare Participation Review Committee
The Medicare Participation Review Committee determines what administrative action should be taken against a practitioner who: 
(a)	has been successfully prosecuted for relevant criminal offences;
(b)	has breached an Approved Pathology Practitioner undertaking; 
(c)	has engaged in prohibited diagnostic imaging practices; or 
(d)	has been found to have engaged in inappropriate practice under the Professional Services Review scheme and has received Final Determinations on two (or more) occasions.

The Committee can take no further action, counsel or reprimand the practitioner, or determine that the practitioner be disqualified from Medicare for a particular period or in relation to particular services for up to five years.

Medicare benefits are not payable in respect of services rendered by a practitioner who has been fully disqualified, or partly disqualified in relation to relevant services under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Section 19B applies).

G.8.3.    Referral of professional issues to regulatory and other bodies
The Health Insurance Act 1973 provides for the following referral, to an appropriate regulatory body:
i.	a significant threat to a person’s life or health, when caused or is being caused or is likely to be caused by the conduct of the practitioner under review; or
ii.	a statement of concerns of non-compliance by a practitioner with ‘professional standards’.

G.8.4.    Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) - Quality Framework
The Government announced in the 2009-10 Budget that it would provide $9.3 million over two years to develop and implement a new evidence-based framework for managing the MBS into the future – the MBS Quality Framework.  The MBS Quality Framework will strengthen the listing, pricing and review processes that underpin the MBS by ensuring that services are aligned with contemporary clinical evidence, represent best value for money and improve health outcomes for patients. 

Proposals for new MBS items or amendments to existing items 
From 1 January 2010, proponents of all new MBS items that do not undergo an assessment through the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) and amendments to existing MBS items will be required to provide detailed information regarding the proposed service and its evidence base.  

The Department will replace the informal internal assessment of all new MBS item applications with a more formal process that determines eligibility for MBS listing and the appropriate assessment pathway – either the Medical Services Advisory Committee or the MBS Quality Framework.    

These arrangements are being developed and finalised in consultation with relevant stakeholders.  

Those interested in submitting an application can do so by either:
1.	directly submitting an application to MSAC or the Quality Framework for assessment; or
2.	submitting an Initial Assessment Application Form to determine the appropriate assessment pathway.

Forms and guidelines are available from the following website www.health.gov.au/mbrtg.

G.8.5.    Medical Services Advisory Committee
The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) advises the Minister on the strength of evidence relating to the safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of new and emerging medical services and technologies and under what circumstances public funding, including listing on the MBS, should be supported.

MSAC members are appointed by the Minister and include specialist practitioners, general practitioners, health economists, a health consumer representative, health planning and administration experts and epidemiologists.

For more information on the MSAC refer to their website – www.msac.gov.au or email on msac.secretariat@health.gov.au or by phoning the MSAC secretariat on (02) 6289 6811.

G.8.6.    Pathology Services Table Committee
This Pathology Services Table Committee comprises six representatives from the interested professions and six from the Australian Government.  Its primary role is to advise the Minister on the need for changes to the structure and content of the Pathology Services Table (except new medical services and technologies) including the level of fees.

G.8.7.    Medicare Claims Review Panel
There are MBS items which make the payment of Medicare benefits dependent on a ‘demonstrated’ clinical need.  Services requiring prior approval are those covered by items 11222, 11225, 12207, 12215, 12217, 14124, 21965, 21997, 30214, 32501, 42771, 42783, 42786, 42789, 42792, 45019, 45020, 45528, 45557, 45558, 45559, 45585, 45586, 45588, 45639_.

Claims for benefits for these services should be lodged with Medicare Australia for referral to the National Office of Medicare Australia for assessment by the Medicare Claims Review Panel (MCRP) and must be accompanied by sufficient clinical and/or photographic evidence to enable Medicare Australia to determine the eligibility of the service for the payment of benefits.  

Practitioners may also apply to Medicare Australia for prospective approval for proposed surgery.

Applications for approval should be addressed to:
The MCRP Officer
PO Box 1001
Tuggeranong ACT 2901

G.9.1.    Penalties and Liabilities
Penalties of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, may be imposed on any person who makes a statement (oral or written) or who issues or presents a document that is false or misleading in a material particular and which is capable of being used with a claim for benefits.  In addition, any practitioner who is found guilty of such offences by a court shall be subject to examination by a Medicare Participation Review Committee and may be counselled or reprimanded or may have services wholly or partially disqualified from the Medicare benefit arrangements.

A penalty of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to three months, or both, may be imposed on any person who obtains a patient's signature on a direct‑billing form without the obligatory details having been entered on the form before the person signs, or who fails to cause a patient to be given a copy of the completed form.

G.10.1.   Schedule fees and Medicare benefits
Medicare benefits are based on fees determined for each medical service.   The fee is referred to in these notes as the "Schedule fee".  The fee for any item listed in the MBS is that which is regarded as being reasonable on average for that service having regard to usual and reasonable variations in the time involved in performing the service on different occasions and to reasonable ranges of complexity and technical difficulty encountered.  

In some cases two levels of fees are applied to the same service in General Medical Services, with each level of fee being allocated a separate item number.  The item identified by the letter "S" applies in the case where the procedure has been rendered by a recognised specialist in the practice of his or her speciality and the patient has been referred.  The item identified by the letter "G" applies in any other circumstances.

As a general rule Schedule fees are adjusted on an annual basis, usually in November.

The Schedule fee and Medicare benefit levels for the medical services contained in the MBS are located with the item descriptions.  Where appropriate, the calculated benefit has been rounded to the nearest higher 5 cents.  However, in no circumstances will the Medicare benefit payable exceed the fee actually charged.
There are presently three levels of Medicare benefit payable:
(a)	75% of the Schedule fee: 
i.	for professional services rendered to a patient as part of an episode of hospital treatment (other than public patients).  Medical practitioners must indicate on their accounts if a medical service is rendered in these circumstances by placing an asterisk ‘*’ directly after an item number where used; or a description of the professional service, preceded by the word ‘patient’;
ii.	for professional services rendered as part of an episode of hospital-substitute treatment, and the patient who receives the treatment chooses to receive a benefit from a private health insurer.  Medical practitioners must indicate on their accounts if a medical service is rendered in these circumstances by placing the words ‘hospital-substitute treatment’ directly after an item number where used; or a description of the professional service, preceded by the words ‘hospital-substitute treatment’.
(b)	100% of the Schedule fee for non-referred attendances by general practitioners to non-admitted patients and services provided by a practice nurse or registered Aboriginal Health Worker on behalf of a general practitioner.
(c)	85% of the Schedule fee, or the Schedule fee less $71.20 (indexed annually), whichever is the greater, for all other professional services.

Public hospital services are to be provided free of charge to eligible persons who choose to be treated as public patients in accordance with the National Healthcare Agreement.

A medical service rendered to a patient on the day of admission to, or day of discharge from hospital, but prior to admission or subsequent to discharge, will attract benefits at the 85% or 100% level, not 75%.  This also applies to a pathology service rendered to a patient prior to admission.  Attendances on patients at a hospital (other than patients covered by paragraph (i) above) attract benefits at the 85% level.

The 75% benefit level applies even though a portion of the service (eg. aftercare) may be rendered outside the hospital. With regard to obstetric items, benefits would be attracted at the 75% level where the confinement takes place in hospital.

Pathology tests performed after discharge from hospital on bodily specimens taken during hospitalisation also attract the 75% level of benefits.

It should be noted that private health insurers can cover the "patient gap" (that is, the difference between the Medicare rebate and the Schedule fee) for services attracting benefits at the 75% level.  Patient’s may insure with private health insurers for the gap between the 75% Medicare benefits and the Schedule fee or for amounts in excess of the Schedule fee where the doctor has an arrangement with their health insurer.

G.10.2.   Medicare safety nets
The Medicare Safety Nets provide families and singles with an additional rebate for out-of-hospital Medicare services, once annual thresholds are reached.  There are two safety nets: the original Medicare safety net and the extended Medicare safety net.

Original Medicare Safety Net:
Under the original Medicare safety net, the Medicare benefit for out-of-hospital services is increased to 100% of the Schedule Fee (up from 85%) once an annual threshold in gap costs is reached.  Gap costs refer to the difference between the Medicare benefit (85%) and the Schedule Fee. The threshold from 1 January 2011 is $399.60.  This threshold applies to all Medicare-eligible singles and families.  

Extended Medicare Safety Net: 
Under the extended Medicare safety net (EMSN), once an annual threshold in out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services is reached, Medicare will pay for 80% of any future out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services for the remainder of the calendar year.  However, where the item has an EMSN benefit cap, there is a maximum limit on the EMSN benefit that will be paid for that item.  Further explanation about EMSN benefit caps is provided below.  Out-of-pocket costs refer to the difference between the Medicare benefit and the fee charged by the practitioner.

In 2011, the threshold for singles and families that hold Commonwealth concession card, families that received Family Tax Benefit Part (A) (FTB(A)) and families that qualify for notional FTB( A) is $578.60.  The threshold for all other singles and families is $1,157.5.

The thresholds for both safety nets are indexed on 1 January each year.

Individuals are automatically registered with Medicare Australia for the safety nets; however couples and families are required to register in order to be recognised as a family for the purposes on the safety nets.  In most cases, registered families have their expenses combined to reach the safety net thresholds.  This may help to qualify for safety net benefits more quickly. Registration forms can be obtained from Medicare Australia offices, or completed online at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.

EMSN Benefit Caps:
The EMSN benefit cap is the maximum EMSN benefit payable for that item and is paid in addition to the standard Medicare rebate. Where there is an EMSN benefit cap in place for the item, the amount of the EMSN cap is displayed in the item descriptor.

Once the EMSN threshold is reached, each time the item is claimed the patient is eligible to receive up to the EMSN benefit cap.  As with the safety nets, the EMSN benefit cap only applied to out-of-hospital services. 

Where the item has an EMSN benefit cap, the EMSN benefit is calculated as 80% of the out-of-pocket cost for the service.  If the calculated EMSN benefit is less than the EMSN benefit cap; then calculated EMSN rebate is paid. The calculated EMSN benefit is greater than the EMSN benefit cap; the EMSN benefit cap is paid.

For example:

Item A has a Schedule fee of $100, the out-of-hospital benefit is $85 (85% of the Schedule fee). The EMSN benefit cap is $30.  Assuming that the patient has reached the EMSN threshold:

o	If the fee charged by the doctor for Item A is $125, the standard Medicare rebate is $85, with an out-of-pocket cost of $40. The EMSN benefit is calculated as $40 x 80% = $32. However, as the EMSN benefit cap is $30, only $30 will be paid.

o	If the fee charged by the doctor for Item A is $110, the standard Medicare rebate is $85, with an out-of-pocket cost of $25. The EMSN benefit is calculated as $25 x 80% = $20. As this is less than the EMSN benefit cap, the full $20 is paid.

G.11.1.   Services not listed in the MBS
Benefits are not generally payable for services not listed in the MBS.  However, there are some procedural services which are not specifically listed because they are regarded as forming part of a consultation or else attract benefits on an attendance basis.  For example, intramuscular injections, aspiration needle biopsy, treatment of sebhorreic keratoses and less than 10 solar keratoses by ablative techniques and closed reduction of the toe (other than the great toe).  

Enquiries about services not listed or on matters of interpretation should be directed to Medicare Australia on 132 150.

G.11.2.   Ministerial Determinations
Section 3C of the Health Insurance Act 1973 empowers the Minister to determine an item and Schedule fee (for the purposes of the Medicare benefits arrangements) for a service not included in the health insurance legislation.  This provision may be used to facilitate payment of benefits for new developed procedures or techniques where close monitoring is desirable.  Services which have received section 3C approval are located in their relevant Groups in the MBS with the notation "(Ministerial Determination)".

G.12.1.   Professional services
Professional services which attract Medicare benefits include medical services rendered by or “on behalf of” a medical practitioner.  The latter include services where a part of the service is performed by a technician employed by or, in accordance with accepted medical practice, acting under the supervision of the medical practitioner.

The Health Insurance Regulations 1975 specify that the following medical services will attract benefits only if they have been personally performed by a medical practitioner on not more than one patient on the one occasion (i.e. two or more patients cannot be attended simultaneously, although patients may be seen consecutively), unless a group session is involved (i.e. Items 170‑172).  The requirement of "personal performance" is met whether or not assistance is provided, according to accepted medical standards:-

(a)	All Category 1 (Professional Attendances) items (except 170‑172, 342-346);
(b)	Each of the following items in Group D1 (Miscellaneous Diagnostic):- 11012, 11015, 11018, 11021, 11212, 11304, 11500, 11600, 11627, 11701, 11712, 11724, 11921, 12000, 12003;
(c)	All Group T1 (Miscellaneous Therapeutic) items (except 13020, 13025, 13200-13206, 13212-13221, 13703, 13706, 13709, 13750-13760, 13915-13948, 14050, 14053, 14218, 14221 and 14224);
(d)	Item 15600 in Group T2 (Radiation Oncology);
(e) 	All Group T3 (Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine) items; 	
(f)	All Group T4 (Obstetrics) items (except 16400 and 16514);
(g)	All Group T6 (Anaesthetics) items;
(h)	All Group T7 (Regional or Field Nerve Block) items;
(i)	All Group T8 (Operations) items;
(j)	All Group T9 (Assistance at Operations) items;
(k)	All Group T10 (Relative Value Guide for Anaesthetics) items.

For the group psychotherapy and family group therapy services covered by Items 170, 171, 172,  342, 344 and 346, benefits are payable only if the services have been conducted personally by the medical practitioner.

Medicare benefits are not payable for these group items or any of the items listed in (a) ‑ (k) above when the service is rendered by a medical practitioner employed by the proprietor of a hospital (not being a private hospital), except where the practitioner is exercising their right of private practice, or is performing a medical service outside the hospital.  For example, benefits are not paid when a hospital intern or registrar performs a service at the request of a staff specialist or visiting medical officer.

G.12.2.   Services rendered on behalf of medical practitioners
Medical services in Categories 2 and 3 not included in the list above and Category 5 (Diagnostic Imaging) services continue to attract Medicare benefits if the service is rendered by:‑
(a)	the medical practitioner in whose name the service is being claimed;
(b)	a person, other than a medical practitioner, who is employed by a medical practitioner or, in accordance with accepted medical practice, acts under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

See Category 6 Notes for Guidance for arrangements relating to Pathology services.

So that a service rendered by an employee or under the supervision of a medical practitioner may attract a Medicare rebate, the service must be billed in the name of the practitioner who must accept full responsibility for the service.   Medicare Australia must be satisfied with the employment and supervision arrangements.  While the supervising medical practitioner need not be present for the entire service, they must have a direct involvement in at least part of the service.  Although the supervision requirements will vary according to the service in question, they will, as a general rule, be satisfied where the medical practitioner has:-
(a)	established consistent quality assurance procedures for the data acquisition; and
(b)	personally analysed the data and written the report. 

Benefits are not payable for these services when a medical practitioner refers patients to self‑employed medical or paramedical personnel, such as radiographers and audiologists, who either bill the patient or the practitioner requesting the service.

G.12.3.   Mass immunisation
Medicare benefits are payable for a professional attendance that includes an immunisation, provided that the actual administration of the vaccine is not specifically funded through any other Commonwealth or State Government program, nor through an international or private organisation.

The location of the service, or advertising of it, or the number of patients presenting together for it, normally do not indicate a mass immunisation.

G.13.1.   Services which do not attract Medicare benefits
Services not attracting benefits
­	telephone consultations;
­	issue of repeat prescriptions when the patient does not attend the surgery in person;
­	group attendances (unless otherwise specified in the item, such as items 170, 171, 172, 342, 344 and 346);
­	non-therapeutic cosmetic surgery;
­	euthanasia and any service directly related to the procedure.  However, services rendered for counselling/assessment about euthanasia will attract benefits.

Medicare benefits are not payable where the medical expenses for the service
­	are paid/payable to a public hospital;
­	are for a compensable injury or illness for which the patient’s insurer or compensation agency has accepted liability. (Please note that if the medical expenses relate to a compensable injury/illness for which the insurer/compensation agency is disputing liability, then Medicare benefits are payable until the liability is accepted.);
­	are for a medical examination for the purposes of life insurance, superannuation, a provident account scheme, or admission to membership of a friendly society;
­	are incurred in mass immunisation (see General Explanatory Note 12 for further explanation).

Unless the Minister otherwise directs
Medicare benefits are not payable where:
­	the service is rendered by or on behalf of, or under an arrangement with the Australian Government, a State or Territory, a local government body or an authority established under Commonwealth, State or Territory law;
­	the medical expenses are incurred by the employer of the person to whom the service is rendered;
­	the person to whom the service is rendered is employed in an industrial undertaking and that service is rendered for  the purposes related to the operation of the undertaking; or
­	the service is a health screening service.
­	the service is a pre-employment screening service

Current regulations preclude the payment of Medicare benefits for professional services rendered in relation to or in association with: 
(a)	chelation therapy (that is, the intravenous administration of ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid or any of its salts) other than for the treatment of heavy-metal poisoning;
(b)	the injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin in the management of obesity;
(c)	the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis;
(d)	the removal of tattoos; 
(e)	the transplantation of a thoracic or abdominal organ, other than a kidney, or of a part of an organ of that kind; or the transplantation of a kidney in conjunction with the transplantation of a thoracic or other abdominal organ, or part of an organ of that kind;
(f)	the removal from a cadaver of kidneys for transplantation;
(g)	the administration of microwave (UHF radio wave) cancer therapy, including the intravenous injection of drugs used in the therapy.

Pain pumps for post-operative pain management
The cannulation and/or catheterisation of surgical sites associated with pain pumps for post-operative pain management cannot be billed under any MBS item.

The filling or re-filling of drug reservoirs of ambulatory pain pumps for post-operative pain  management  cannot be billed under any MBS items.

Non Medicare Services
An item in the range 1 to 10943 does not apply to the service described in that item if the service is provided at the same time as, or in connection with, any of the services specified below

(a)	Endoluminal gastroplication, for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease;
(b)	Endovenous laser treatment, for varicose veins;
(c)	Gamma knife surgery;
(d)	Intradiscal electro thermal arthroplasty;
(e)	Intravascular ultrasound (except where used in conjunction with intravascular brachytherapy);
(f)	Intro-articular viscosupplementation, for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee;
(g)	Low intensity ultrasound treatment, for the acceleration of bone fracture healing, using a bone growth stimulator;
(h)	Lung volume reduction surgery, for advanced emphysema;
(i)	Photodynamic therapy, for skin and mucosal cancer;
(j)	Placement of artificial bowel sphincters, in the management of faecal incontinence;
(k)	Sacral nerve stimulation, for urinary incontinence;
(l)	Selective internal radiation therapy for any condition other than hepatic metastases that are secondary to colorectal cancer;
(m)	Specific mass measurement of bone alkaline phosphatase;
(n)	Transmyocardial laser revascularisation;
(o)	Vertebral axial decompression therapy, for chronic back pain.

Health Screening Services
Unless the Minister otherwise directs Medicare benefits are not payable for health screening services.  A health screening service is defined as a medical examination or test that is not reasonably required for the management of the medical condition of the patient.  Services covered by this proscription include such items as:
­	multiphasic health screening;
­	mammography screening (except as provided for in Items 59300/59303);
­	testing of fitness to undergo physical training program, vocational activities or weight reduction programs;
­	compulsory examinations and tests to obtain a flying, commercial driving or other licence;
­	entrance to schools and other educational facilities;
­	for the purposes of legal proceedings;
­	compulsory examinations for admission to aged persons' accommodation and pathology services associated with clinical ecology.

The Minister has directed that Medicare benefits be paid for the following categories of health screening:
­	a medical examination or test on a symptomless patient by that patient's own medical practitioner in the course of normal medical practice, to ensure the patient receives any medical advice or treatment necessary to maintain their state of health.  Benefits would be payable for the attendance and tests which are considered reasonably necessary according to patients individual circumstances (such as age, physical condition, past personal and family history).   For example, a Papanicolaou test in a woman (see General Explanatory note 13.6.4 for more information), blood lipid estimation where a person has a family history of lipid disorder.  However, such routine check up should not necessarily be accompanied by an extensive battery of diagnostic investigations;
­	a pathology service requested by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Risk Evaluation Service;
­	age or health related medical examinations to obtain or renew a licence to drive a private motor vehicle;
­	a medical examination of, and/or blood collection from persons occupationally exposed to sexual transmission of disease, in line with conditions determined by the relevant State or Territory health authority, (one examination or collection per person per week).  Benefits are not paid for pathology tests resulting from the examination or collection;
­	a medical examination being a condition of child adoption or fostering;
­	a medical examination being a requisite for Social Security benefits or allowances;
­	a medical or optometrical examination provided to a person who is an unemployed person (as defined by the Social Security Act 1991), as the request of a prospective employer.

The National Policy on screening for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, the Australian Cancer Society and the National Health and Medical Research Council) is as follows:-
­	an examination interval of two years for women who have no symptoms or history suggestive of abnormal cervical cytology, commencing between the ages of 18 to 20 years, or one or two years after first sexual intercourse, whichever is later;
­	cessation of cervical smears at 70 years for women who have had two normal results within the last five years. Women over 70 who have never been examined, or who request a cervical smear, should be examined.

Note 1:	As separate items exist for routine examination of cervical smears, treating practitioners are asked to clearly identify on the request form to the pathologist, if the smear has been taken as a routine examination or for the management of a previously detected abnormality (see paragraph PP.11 of Pathology Services Explanatory Notes in Category 6).

Note 2:	See items 2501 to 2509, and 2600 to 2616 in Group A18 and A19 of Category 1 – Professional Attendances and the associated explanatory notes for these items in Category 1 – Professional Attendances.

Services rendered to a doctor's dependants, practice partner, or practice partner's dependants
Generally, Medicare benefits are not paid for professional services rendered by a medical practitioner to dependants or partners or a partner's dependants. 

A 'dependant' person is a spouse or a child.  The following provides definitions of these dependant persons:

a spouse, in relation to a dependant person means:
(a) a person who is legally married to, and is not living, on a permanent basis, separately and apart from, that person; and
(b) a de facto spouse of that person.

a child, in relation to a dependant person means:
(a) a child under the age of 16 years who is in the custody, care and control of the person or the spouse of the person; and
(b) a person who:
	(i) has attained the age of 16 years who is in the custody, care and control of the person of the spouse of the person; or
	(ii) is receiving full time education at a school, college or university; and
	(iii) is not being paid a disability support pension under the Social Security Act 1991; and
	(iv) is wholly or substantially dependent on the person or on the spouse of the person.

G.14.1.   Principles of interpretation of the MBS
Each professional service listed in the MBS is a complete medical service.  Where a listed service is also a component of a more comprehensive service covered by another item, the benefit for the latter service will cover the former. 

Where a service is rendered partly by one medical practitioner and partly by another, only the one amount of benefit is payable. For example, where a radiographic examination is started by one medical practitioner and finalised by another.

G.14.2.   Services attracting benefits on an attendance basis
Some services are not listed in the MBS because they are regarded as forming part of a consultation or they attract benefits on an attendance basis.  Some of these services are identified in the indexes to this book with an (*).

G.14.3.   Consultation and procedures rendered at the one attendance
Where, during a single attendance, a consultation (under Category 1 of the MBS) and another medical service (under any other Category of the Schedule) occur, benefits are payable subject to certain exceptions, for both the consultation and the other service.  Benefits are not payable for the consultation in addition to an item rendered on the same occasion where the item is qualified by words such as "each attendance", "attendance at which", “including associated attendances/consultations", and all items in Group T6 and T9. In the case of radiotherapy treatment (Group T2 of Category 3) benefits are payable for both the radiotherapy and an initial referred consultation.

Where the level of benefit for an attendance depends upon the consultation time (for example, in psychiatry), the time spent in carrying out a procedure which is covered by another item in the MBS, may not be included in the consultation time.

A consultation fee may only be charged if a consultation occurs; that is, it is not expected that consultation fee will be charged on every occasion a procedure is performed.

G.14.4.   Aggregate items
The MBS includes a number of items which apply only in conjunction with another specified service listed in the MBS.  These items provide for the application of a fixed loading or factor to the fee and benefit for the service with which they are rendered. 

When these particular procedures are rendered in conjunction, the legislation provides for the procedures to be regarded as one service and for a single patient gap to apply.  The Schedule fee for the service will be ascertained in accordance with the particular rules shown in the relevant items.

G.14.5.   Residential aged care facility
A residential aged care facility is defined in the Aged Care Act 1997; the definition includes facilities formerly known as nursing homes and hostels.

G.15.1.   Practitioners should maintain adequate and contemporaneous records
All practitioners who provide, or initiate, a service for which a Medicare benefit is payable, should ensure they maintain adequate and contemporaneous records. 

Note: 'Practitioner' is defined in Section 81 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 and includes: medical practitioners, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, podiatrists and osteopaths.

Since 1 November 1999 PSR Committees determining issues of inappropriate practice have been obliged to consider if the practitioner kept adequate and contemporaneous records.  It will be up to the peer judgement of the PSR Committee to decide if a practitioner’s records meet the prescribed standards.

The standards which determine if a record is adequate and contemporaneous are prescribed in the Health Insurance (Professional Services Review) Regulations 1999.

To be adequate, the patient or clinical record needs to: 
­	clearly identify the name of the patient; and
­	contain a separate entry for each attendance by the patient for a service and the date on which the service was rendered or initiated; and
­	each entry needs to provide clinical information adequate to explain the type of service rendered or initiated; and 
­	each entry needs to be sufficiently comprehensible that another practitioner, relying on the record, can effectively undertake the patient’s ongoing care.

To be contemporaneous, the patient or clinical record should be completed at the time that the service was rendered or initiated or as soon as practicable afterwards.  Records for hospital patients are usually kept by the hospital and the practitioner could rely on these records to document in‑patient care.

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SERVICES

CATEGORY 4

SUMMARY OF CHANGES 
There have been no changes to this Category for 1 July 2011.

OM.1.1.   Benefits for Medical Services Performed by Approved Dental Practitioners
Under the provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act), Medicare benefits are payable where an eligible person incurs medical expenses in respect of certain professional services rendered by a approved dental practitioner approved before 1 November 2004.  

Category 4 is restricted to those dental practitioners who were approved by the Minister prior to 1 November 2004 for the provision of oral and maxillofacial surgery services and relevant attendances.

Approved dental practitioners may also request certain diagnostic imaging services – refer to Category 5 – Diagnostic Imaging Services for more information.

OM.1.2.   Changes to the Scheme Effective from 1 November 2004
From 1 November 2004, access to Category 4 is restricted to those dental practitioners who were approved by the Minister prior to 1 November 2004.  No new approvals will be granted after that date.

Background
Since 2000, practitioners performing oral and maxillofacial surgery in Australia are required to have both dental and medical qualifications in order to sit for their FRACDS(OMS) exam.  This effectively means that since then, any practitioner who has obtained an FRACDS(OMS) or equivalent can access Category 3 of the MBS because they are medically qualified.  The Government, in consultation with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Australian Dental Association, the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, the Royal Australian College of Dental Surgeons and the Australian Medical Association, has agreed that access by new practitioners to Category 4 will be withdrawn from 1 November 2004.  Practitioners who were approved prior to that date will continue to have access to Category 4.  The long-term proposal is that once all practitioners who currently access Category 4 have left the workforce, Category 4 will be removed from the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Details of the services attracting Medicare benefits are set out in the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

OM.2.1.   Definition of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is defined as the surgical specialty which deals with the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects of the oral and maxillofacial region.

OM.2.2.   Services That Can Be Provided
Dental practitioners holding the FRACDS (OMS) or equivalent who were approved by the Minister prior to 1 November 2004 may perform prescribed oral and maxillofacial services listed in this category.  All dental practitioners approved for the purposes of subsection 3(1) of the Act are also recognised to perform those items of oral and maxillofacial surgery listed in Group C2 of the booklet “Medicare Benefits for Treatment of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Conditions”.

It is emphasised that ‑ 
-	the sole purpose of granting approval to dental practitioners is to enable payment of Medicare benefits; 
-	the services set out in Groups 01 to 011 of the Medicare Benefits Schedule book, and in the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Schedule are the only ones for which Medicare benefits are payable when the services are performed by an eligible dental practitioner.

OM.3.1.   Principles of Interpretation
Each professional service listed in the Schedule is a complete medical service in itself.  Where a service is rendered partly by one practitioner and partly by another, only the one amount of benefit is payable.

OM.3.2.   Multiple Operation Rule
The Schedule fees for two or more operations performed on a patient on the one occasion are calculated by the following rule:‑
100% for the item with the greatest Schedule fee, plus 50% for the item with the next greatest Schedule fee, plus 25% for each other item.

NOTE:
1.	Fees so calculated which result in a sum which is not a multiple of 5 cents are to be taken to the next higher multiple of 5 cents 
2.	Where two or more operations performed on the one occasion have fees which are equal, one of these amounts shall be treated as being greater than the other or others of those amounts. 
3.	The Schedule fee for benefits purposes is the aggregate of the fees calculated in accordance with the above formula.

The above rule does not apply to an operation which is one of two or more operations performed under the one anaesthetic on the same patient by different dental practitioners unless either practitioner assists the other.  In this case, the fees and benefits specified in the Schedule apply.  For these purposes the term "operation" includes all services in Groups O3 to O9. 

If the operation comprises a combination of procedures which are commonly performed together and for which a specific combined item is provided in the Schedule, it is regarded as the one item and service in applying the multiple operation rule.
  
OM.3.3.   After Care (Post-operative Treatment)
The fee specified for each of the operations listed in the Schedule contains a component for the consequential after‑care customarily provided unless otherwise indicated.  After‑care is deemed to include all post‑operative treatment rendered by practitioners and need not necessarily be limited to treatment given by the approved dental practitioner or to treatment given by any one practitioner.  This does not preclude, however, the payment of benefit for professional services for the treatment by a dental practitioner of an intercurrent condition or an unusual complication arising from the operation. 

Some minor operations are merely stages in the treatment of a particular condition.  Professional services by dental practitioners subsequent to such operations should not be regarded as after‑care but rather as continuation of the treatment of the original condition and should attract benefit. Item 52057 is a service to which this policy applies.

OM.3.4.   Administration of Anaesthetics by Medical Practitioners
When a medical practitioner administers an anaesthetic in connection with a procedure prescribed for the payment of Medicare benefits (and the procedure has been performed by an approved dental practitioner), Medicare benefits are payable for the administration of the anaesthetic on the same basis as if the procedure had been rendered by a medical practitioner.

The Schedule fee for anaesthesia is established using the RVG schedule at Category 3 - Group T10.  

Before the payment of benefits for the administration of anaesthesia, or for the services of an assistant anaesthetist, a number of additional details are required on the anaesthetist’s account:
-	The anaesthetist’s account must show the name/s of the medical practitioner/s who performed the associated operation/s.  Also, where the after hours emergency modifier applies to the anaesthesia service, the account must include the start time, the end time and the total time of the anaesthesia;
-	The assistant anaesthetist’s account must show the name/s of the medical practitioners who performed the associated operation/s, as well as the name of the principle anaesthetist.  In addition, where the after hours emergency modifier applies, the assistant anaesthetist’s account must record the start time, the end time and the total time for which he or she was providing professional attention to the patient during the anaesthesia.

OM.4.1.   Consultations - (Items 51700 and 51703)
The consultation item numbers (51700 and 51703) are to be used by approved dental practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The referral must be from a registered dental practitioner or a medical practitioner.

OM.4.2.   Assistance at Operations - (Items 51800 and 51803)
Items covering operations which are eligible for benefits for assistance by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery or surgical assistance have been identified by the inclusion of the word "Assist" in the item description.  Medicare benefits are not payable for surgical assistance associated with procedures which have not been so identified.

The assistance must be rendered by a practitioner other than the surgeon, the anaesthetist or the assistant anaesthetist.

Where more than one practitioner provides assistance to an approved dental practitioner no additional benefits are payable.  The assistance benefit is the same irrespective of the number of practitioners providing assistance.

Benefits payable under item 51800
Medicare benefits are payable under Item 51800 for assistance rendered at the following procedures:
51900, 51904, 52010, 52018, 52039, 52048, 52051, 52062, 52063, 52066, 52078, 52090, 52092, 52095, 52105, 52108, 52111, 52130, 52138, 52141, 52144, 52147, 52182, 52300, 52303, 52312, 52315, 52321, 52324, 52336, 52339, 52424, 52440, 52452, 52480, 52482, 52600, 52603, 52609, 52612, 52615, 52624, 52626, 52627, 52800, 52803, 52806, 52809, 52818, 52824, 52828, 52830, 53006, 53009, 53016, 53215, 53220, 53225, 53226, 53236, 53239, 53242, 53406, 53409, 53412, 53413, 53415, 53416, 53453, 53460.

Where assistance with any of the above procedures is provided by a medical practitioner, benefits are payable under item 51300.

Benefits payable under Item 51803
Medicare benefits are payable under Item 51803 for assistance rendered at the following procedures:
51906, 52054, 52094, 52114, 52117, 52120, 52122, 52123, 52126, 52129, 52131, 52148, 52158, 52184, 52186,  52306, 52330, 52333, 52337, 52342, 52345, 52348, 52351, 52354, 52357, 52360, 52363, 52366, 52369, 52372, 52375, 52378, 52379, 52380, 52382, 52430, 52442, 52444, 52446, 52456, 52484, 52618, 52621, 52812, 52815, 52821, 52832, 53015, 53017, 53019, 53209, 53212, 53218, 53221, 53224, 53227, 53230, 53233, 53414, 53418, 53419, 53422, 53423, 53424, 53425, 53427, 53429, 53455.

or at a combination of procedures (including those identified as payable under item 51800 above) for which the aggregate fee exceeds the amount specified in the item.

Where assistance with any of the above procedures is provided by a medical practitioner, benefits are payable under Item 51303.

Assistance at multiple operations
Where assistance is provided at two or more operations performed on a patient on the one occasion the multi operation formula is applied to all the operations to determine the surgical fee payable to each approved dental practitioner.  The multi-operation formula is then applied to those items at which assistance was rendered and for which Medicare benefits for assistance is payable to determine the abated fee level for assistance. The abated fee is used to determine the appropriate Schedule item covering the surgical assistance (ie either Items 51800/51300 or 51803/51303). 

The derived fee applicable to Item 51803/51303 is calculated on the basis of one-fifth of the abated Schedule fee for the surgery.

OM.4.3.   Repair of Wound - (Item 51900)
Item 51900 covers debridement of “deep and extensively contaminated” wound.  Benefits are not payable under this item for debridement which would be expected to be encountered as part of an operative approach to the treatment of fractures.

OM.4.4.   Lipectomy, Wedge Excision  - Two or More Excisions - (Item 51906)
Multiple lipectomies attract benefits under Item 51906 once only, i.e. the multiple operation rule does not apply. 

Medicare benefits are not payable in respect of liposuction.

OM.4.5.   Upper Aerodigestive Tract Endoscopic Procedure - (Item 52035)
The following are guidelines of appropriate minimum standards for the performance of GI endoscopy in relation to (a) cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation procedures, and (b) anaesthetic and resuscitation equipment.  These guidelines are based on the advice of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, the Sections of HPB and Upper GI and of Colon and Rectal Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia.

Cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation procedures
Endoscopic procedures should be performed in facilities where endoscope and accessory reprocessing protocols follow procedures outlined in:-

(i) 'Infection and Endoscopy' (3rd edition), Gastroenterological Society of Australia;
(ii) 'Infection control in the health care setting - Guidelines for the prevention of transmission of infectious diseases', National Health and Medical Research Council; and
(iii) Australian Standard AS 4187-1994 (and Amendments), Standards Association of Australia.

Anaesthetic and resuscitation equipment
Where the patient is anaesthetised, anaesthetic equipment, administration and monitoring, and post operative and resuscitation facilities should conform to the standards outlined in 'Sedation for Endoscopy', Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Gastroenterological Society of Australia and Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. These guidelines will be taken into account in determining appropriate practice in the context of the Professional Services Review process.

OM.4.6.   Tumour, cyst, Ulcer or Scar - (Items 52036 to 52054)
It is recognised that odontogenic keratocysts, although not neoplastic, often require the surgical management of benign tumours.

OM.4.7.   Aspiration of Haematoma - (Item 52056)
Aspiration of haematoma is indicated in clinical situations where incision may leave an unsightly scar or where access is difficult for conventional drainage

OM.4.8.   Osteotomy of Jaw - (Items 52342 to 52375)
The fee and benefit for these items include the various forms of internal or dental fixation, jaw immobilisation, the transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site.  

Bone grafts taken from a separate site, e.g. iliac crest, would attract additional benefit under Item 52318 or 52319 for the harvesting, plus item 52130 or 52131 for the grafting. 

Where the site of grafting under item 52131 requires closure by single stage local flap, item 52300 may be claimed where clinically appropriate.  Clinically appropriate in this instance means that the flap is required to close defects because the defect cannot be closed directly.

A local skin flap is an area of skin or subcutaneous tissue designed to be elevated from the skin adjoining a defect requiring closure.  The flap remains partially attached by pedicle and is moved to the defect by rotation, advancement or transposition, or a combination of these manoeuvres. 

Benefits are only payable where the flap is required for adequate wound closure.  A secondary defect will be created which may be closed by direct suture, skin grafting or sometimes a further local skin flap.  This latter procedure will also attract benefit if closed by graft or flap repair but not been closed by direct suture.

By definition, direct wound closure (e.g. by suture) does not constitute skin flap.  Similarly, angled, curved or trapdoor incisions which are used for exposure and which are sutured back into the same position relative to the adjacent tissues are not skin flap repairs. Undermining of the edges of the wound prior to suturing is considered a normal part of wound closure and is not considered to skin flap repair.

For the purposes of these items, a reference to maxilla includes the zygoma.

OM.4.9.   Genioplasty - (Item 52378)
Genioplasty attracts benefit once only although a section is made on both sides of the symphysis of the mandible. 

OM.4.10.  Fracture of Mandible or Maxilla - (Items 53400 to 53439)
There are two maxillae in the skull and for the purpose of these items the mandible is regarded as comprising two bones.  

Hence a bilateral fracture of the mandible would be assessed as:
•	Item 53409 x 1½; 
•	two maxillae and one side of the mandible as Item 53406 x 1½ + 53409 x ¼. 

Splinting in Item 53406 or 53409 refers to cap splints, arch bars, silver (cast metal) or acrylic splints. 

OM.4.11.  Skin Sensitivity Testing - (Item 53600)
The allergens are local anaesthetics and the contents of anaesthetic capsules, acrylic and other polymers and metals.

OM.4.12.  Destruction of Nerve Branch by Neurolytic Agent - (Item 53706)
Item 53706 includes the use of botulinum toxin as a neurolytic agent
Schedules of Services
Each professional service contained in the book has been allocated a unique item number.  Located with the item number and description for each service is the Schedule fee and Medicare benefit, together with a reference to an explanatory note relating to the item (if applicable). 

If the service attracts an anaesthetic, the word (Anaes.) appears following the description. Where an operation qualifies for the payment of benefits for an assistant, the relevant items are identified by the inclusion of the word (Assist.) in the item description. Medicare benefits are not payable for surgical assistance associated with procedures which have not been so identified.

In some cases two levels of fees are applied to the same service in General Medical Services, with each level of fee being allocated a separate item number.  The item identified by the letter "S" applies in the case where the procedure has been rendered by a recognised specialist in the practice of his or her specialty and the patient has been referred.  The item identified by the letter "G" applies in any other circumstance.

Higher rates of benefits are also provided for consultations by a recognised consultant physician where the patient has been referred by another medical practitioner or an approved dental practitioner (oral surgeons). 

Differential fees and benefits also apply to services listed in Category 5 (Diagnostic Imaging Services). The conditions relating to these services are set out in Category 5.

Explanatory Notes
Explanatory notes relating to the Medicare benefit arrangements and notes that have general application to services are located at the beginning of the schedule, while notes relating to specific items are located at the beginning of each Category. While there may be a reference following the description of an item to specific notes relating to that item, there may also be general notes relating to each Group of items.

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O1 - CONSULTATIONS	
51700	
APPROVED DENTAL PRACTITIONER, REFERRED CONSULTATION - SURGERY, HOSPITAL OR RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE FACILITY

Professional attendance (other than a second or subsequent attendance in a single course of treatment) by an approved dental practitioner, at consulting rooms, hospital or residential aged care facility where the patient is referred to him or her
(See para OM4.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $82.30	Benefit: 75% = $61.75	85% = $70.00	
51703	
Professional attendance by an approved dental practitioner, each attendance subsequent to the first in a single course of treatment at consulting rooms, hospital or residential aged care facility where the patient is referred to him or her
(See para OM4.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $41.35	Benefit: 75% = $31.05	85% = $35.15	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O2 - ASSISTANCE AT OPERATION	
51800	
Assistance by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery at any operation identified by the word "Assist." for which the fee does not exceed $537.15 or at a series or combination of operations identified by the word "Assist." where the fee for the series or combination of operations identified by the word "Assist." does not exceed $537.15
(See para OM4.2 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $83.05	Benefit: 75% = $62.30	85% = $70.60	
51803	
Assistance by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery at any operation identified by the word "Assist." for which the fee exceeds $537.15 or at a series or combination of operations identified by the word "Assist." where the aggregate fee exceeds $537.15
(See para OM4.2 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Derived Fee: one fifth of the established fee for the operation or combination of operations	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O3 - GENERAL SURGERY	
51900	
WOUND OF SOFT TISSUE, deep or extensively contaminated, debridement of, under general anaesthesia or regional or field nerve block, including suturing of that wound when performed (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $313.70	Benefit: 75% = $235.30	85% = $266.65	
51902	
WOUNDS, DRESSING OF, under general anaesthesia, with or without removal of sutures, not being a service associated with a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $71.10	Benefit: 75% = $53.35	85% = $60.45	
51904	
LIPECTOMY - wedge excision of skin or fat - 1 EXCISION (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $437.60	Benefit: 75% = $328.20	85% = $372.00	
51906	
LIPECTOMY  - wedge excision of skin or fat - 2 OR MORE EXCISIONS (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.4 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $665.55	Benefit: 75% = $499.20	85% = $594.35	
52000	
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE, REPAIR OF RECENT WOUND OF, on face or neck, small (NOT MORE THAN 7 CM LONG), superficial (Anaes.)
Fee: $79.35	Benefit: 75% = $59.55	85% = $67.45	
52003	
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE, REPAIR OF RECENT WOUND OF, on face or neck, small (NOT MORE THAN 7 CM LONG), involving deeper tissue (Anaes.)
Fee: $113.10	Benefit: 75% = $84.85	85% = $96.15	
52006	
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE, REPAIR OF RECENT WOUND OF, on face or neck, large (MORE THAN 7 CM LONG), superficial (Anaes.)
Fee: $113.10	Benefit: 75% = $84.85	85% = $96.15	
52009	
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE, REPAIR OF RECENT WOUND OF, on face or neck, large (MORE THAN 7 CM LONG), involving deeper tissue (Anaes.)
Fee: $178.60	Benefit: 75% = $133.95	85% = $151.85	
52010	
FULL THICKNESS LACERATION OF EAR, EYELID, NOSE OR LIP, repair of, with accurate apposition of each layer of tissue (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $244.35	Benefit: 75% = $183.30	85% = $207.70	
52012	
SUPERFICIAL FOREIGN BODY,  removal of, as an independent procedure (Anaes.)
Fee: $22.60	Benefit: 75% = $16.95	85% = $19.25	
52015	
SUBCUTANEOUS FOREIGN BODY,  removal of, requiring incision and suture, as an independent procedure (Anaes.)
Fee: $105.75	Benefit: 75% = $79.35	85% = $89.90	
52018	
FOREIGN BODY IN MUSCLE, TENDON OR OTHER DEEP TISSUE,  removal of, as an independent procedure (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $266.30	Benefit: 75% = $199.75	85% = $226.40	
52021	
ASPIRATION BIOPSY of 1 or MORE JAW CYSTS as an independent procedure to obtain material for diagnostic purposes and not being a service associated with an operative procedure on the same day (Anaes.)
Fee: $28.35	Benefit: 75% = $21.30	85% = $24.10	
52024	
BIOPSY OF SKIN OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE, as an independent procedure (Anaes.)
Fee: $50.25	Benefit: 75% = $37.70	85% = $42.75	
52025	
LYMPH NODE OF NECK, biopsy of (Anaes.)
Fee: $176.90	Benefit: 75% = $132.70	85% = $150.40	
52027	
BIOPSY OF LYMPH GLAND, MUSCLE OR OTHER DEEP TISSUE OR ORGAN, as an independent procedure and not being a service to which item 52025 applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $144.05	Benefit: 75% = $108.05	85% = $122.45	
52030	
SINUS, excision of, involving superficial tissue only (Anaes.)
Fee: $86.55	Benefit: 75% = $64.95	85% = $73.60	
52033	
SINUS, excision of, involving muscle and deep tissue (Anaes.)
Fee: $176.90	Benefit: 75% = $132.70	85% = $150.40	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52034	
PREMALIGNANT LESIONS of the oral mucous, treatment by cryotherapy, diathermy or carbon dioxide laser
Fee: $41.35	Benefit: 75% = $31.05	85% = $35.15	
52035	
ENDOSCOPIC LASER THERAPY for neoplasia and benign vascular lesions of the oral cavity (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.5 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $458.05	Benefit: 75% = $343.55	85% = $389.35	
52036	
TUMOUR, CYST, ULCER OR SCAR, (other than a scar removed during the surgical approach at an operation), up to 3 cm in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture, not being a service to which item 52039 applies (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $122.10	Benefit: 75% = $91.60	85% = $103.80	
52039	
TUMOURS, CYSTS, ULCERS OR SCARS, (other than a scar removed during the surgical approach at an operation), up to 3 cm in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture, and the procedure is performed on more than 3 but not more than 10 lesions (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $313.70	Benefit: 75% = $235.30	85% = $266.65	
52042	
TUMOUR, CYST, ULCER OR SCAR, (other than a scar removed during the surgical approach at an operation), more than 3 cm in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $166.00	Benefit: 75% = $124.50	85% = $141.10	
52045	
TUMOUR, CYST (other than a cyst associated with a tooth or tooth fragment unless it has been established by radiological examination that there is a minimum of 5mm separation between the cyst lining and tooth structure or where a tumour or cyst has been proven by positive histopathology), ULCER OR SCAR (other than a scar removed during the surgical approach at an operation), removal of, not being a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies, involving muscle, bone, or other deep tissue (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $237.15	Benefit: 75% = $177.90	85% = $201.60	
52048	
TUMOUR OR DEEP CYST (other than a cyst associated with a tooth or tooth fragment unless it has been established by radiological examination that there is a minimum of 5mm separation between the cyst lining and tooth structure or where a tumour or cyst has been proven by positive histopathology), removal of, requiring wide excision, not being a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $357.40	Benefit: 75% = $268.05	85% = $303.80	
52051	
TUMOUR, removal of, from soft tissue (including muscle, fascia and connective tissue), extensive excision of, without skin or mucosal graft (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $483.25	Benefit: 75% = $362.45	85% = $412.05	
52054	
TUMOUR, removal of, from soft tissue (including muscle, fascia and connective tissue), extensive excision of, with skin or mucosal graft (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $565.35	Benefit: 75% = $424.05	85% = $494.15	
52055	
HAEMATOMA, SMALL ABSCESS OR CELLULITIS, not requiring admission to a hospital, INCISION WITH DRAINAGE OF (excluding after care)
Fee: $26.30	Benefit: 75% = $19.75	85% = $22.40	
52056	
HAEMATOMA, aspiration of (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.7 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $26.30	Benefit: 75% = $19.75	85% = $22.40	
52057	
LARGE HAEMATOMA, LARGE ABSCESS, CARBUNCLE, CELLULITIS or similar lesion, requiring admission to a hospital, INCISION WITH DRAINAGE OF (excluding aftercare) (Anaes.)
(See para OM3.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $156.75	Benefit: 75% = $117.60	85% = $133.25	
52058	
PERCUTANEOUS DRAINAGE OF DEEP ABSCESS, using  interventional imaging techniques - but not including imaging (Anaes.)
Fee: $228.60	Benefit: 75% = $171.45	85% = $194.35	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52059	
ABSCESS, DRAINAGE TUBE, exchange of using interventional imaging techniques - but not including imaging (Anaes.)
Fee: $257.50	Benefit: 75% = $193.15	85% = $218.90	
52060	
MUSCLE, excision of (Anaes.)
Fee: $182.20	Benefit: 75% = $136.65	85% = $154.90	
52061	
MUSCLE, RUPTURED, repair of (limited), not associated with external wound (Anaes.)
Fee: $215.15	Benefit: 75% = $161.40	85% = $182.90	
52062	
MUSCLE, RUPTURED, repair of (extensive), not associated with external wound (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $284.50	Benefit: 75% = $213.40	85% = $241.85	
52063	
BONE TUMOUR, INNOCENT, excision of, not being a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $342.85	Benefit: 75% = $257.15	85% = $291.45	
52064	
BONE CYST, injection into or aspiration of (Anaes.)
Fee: $163.10	Benefit: 75% = $122.35	85% = $138.65	
52066	
SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND, extirpation of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $428.55	Benefit: 75% = $321.45	85% = $364.30	
52069	
SUBLINGUAL GLAND, extirpation of (Anaes.)
Fee: $191.00	Benefit: 75% = $143.25	85% = $162.35	
52072	
SALIVARY GLAND, DILATATION OR DIATHERMY of duct (Anaes.)
Fee: $56.55	Benefit: 75% = $42.45	85% = $48.10	
52073	
SALIVARY GLAND, repair of CUTANEOUS FISTULA OF (Anaes.)
Fee: $144.05	Benefit: 75% = $108.05	85% = $122.45	
52075	
SALIVARY GLAND, removal of CALCULUS from duct or meatotomy or marsupialisation, 1 or more such procedures (Anaes.)
Fee: $144.05	Benefit: 75% = $108.05	85% = $122.45	
52078	
TONGUE, partial excision of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $284.50	Benefit: 75% = $213.40	85% = $241.85	
52081	
TONGUE TIE, division or excision of frenulum (Anaes.)
Fee: $44.75	Benefit: 75% = $33.60	85% = $38.05	
52084	
TONGUE TIE, MANDIBULAR FRENULUM OR MAXILLARY FRENULUM, division or excision of frenulum, in a person aged not less than 2 years (Anaes.)
Fee: $114.95	Benefit: 75% = $86.25	85% = $97.75	
52087	
RANULA OR MUCOUS CYST OF MOUTH, removal of (Anaes.)
Fee: $196.95	Benefit: 75% = $147.75	85% = $167.45	
52090	
OPERATION ON MANDIBLE OR MAXILLA (other than alveolar margins) for chronic osteomyelitis - 1 bone or in combination with adjoining bones (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $342.85	Benefit: 75% = $257.15	85% = $291.45	
52092	
OPERATION on SKULL for OSTEOMYELITIS (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $446.90	Benefit: 75% = $335.20	85% = $379.90	
52094	
OPERATION ON ANY COMBINATION OF ADJOINING BONES, being bones referred to in item 52092 (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $565.30	Benefit: 75% = $424.00	85% = $494.10	
52095	
BONE GROWTH STIMULATOR, insertion of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $366.35	Benefit: 75% = $274.80	85% = $311.40	
52096	
ORTHOPAEDIC PIN OR WIRE, insertion of, into maxilla or mandible or zygoma, as an independent procedure (Anaes.)
Fee: $108.60	Benefit: 75% = $81.45	85% = $92.35	
52097	
EXTERNAL FIXATION, removal of, in the operating theatre of a hospital (Anaes.)
Fee: $153.95	Benefit: 75% = $115.50	85% = $130.90	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52098	
EXTERNAL FIXATION, removal of, in conjunction with operations involving internal fixation or bone grafting or both (Anaes.)
Fee: $181.10	Benefit: 75% = $135.85	85% = $153.95	
52099	
BURIED WIRE, PIN or SCREW, 1 or more, which were inserted for internal fixation purposes into maxilla or mandible or zygoma, removal of, requiring anaesthesia, incision, dissection and suturing, per bone, not being a service associated with a service to which item 52102 or 52105 applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $135.90	Benefit: 75% = $101.95	85% = $115.55	
52102	
BURIED WIRE, PIN or SCREW, 1 or more, which were inserted for internal fixation purposes into maxilla or mandible or zygoma, removal of, requiring anaesthesia, incision, dissection and suturing, where undertaken in the operating theatre of a hospital, per bone (Anaes.)
Fee: $135.90	Benefit: 75% = $101.95	85% = $115.55	
52105	
PLATE, 1 or more of, and associated screw and wire which were inserted for internal fixation purposes into maxilla or mandible or zygoma, removal of, requiring anaesthesia, incision, dissection and suturing, per bone, not being a service associated with a service to which item 52099 or 52102 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $253.65	Benefit: 75% = $190.25	85% = $215.65	
52106	
ARCH BARS, 1 or more, which were inserted for dental fixation purposes to the maxilla or mandible, removal of, requiring general anaesthesia where undertaken in the operating theatre of a hospital (Anaes.)
Fee: $104.75	Benefit: 75% = $78.60	85% = $89.05	
52108	
LIP, full thickness wedge excision of, with repair by direct sutures (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $313.70	Benefit: 75% = $235.30	85% = $266.65	
52111	
VERMILIONECTOMY (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $313.70	Benefit: 75% = $235.30	85% = $266.65	
52114	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, segmental resection of, for tumours or cysts (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $565.35	Benefit: 75% = $424.05	85% = $494.15	
52117	
MANDIBLE, including lower border, or MAXILLA, sub-total resection of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $672.95	Benefit: 75% = $504.75	85% = $601.75	
52120	
MANDIBLE, hemimandiblectomy of, including condylectomy where performed (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $795.95	Benefit: 75% = $597.00	85% = $724.75	
52122	
MANDIBLE, hemi-mandibular reconstruction of, OR MAXILLA, reconstruction of, with BONE GRAFT, PLATE, TRAY OR ALLOPLAST, not being a service associated with a service to which item 52123 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $795.95	Benefit: 75% = $597.00	85% = $724.75	
52123	
MANDIBLE, total resection of both sides, including condylectomies where performed (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $901.10	Benefit: 75% = $675.85	85% = $829.90	
52126	
MAXILLA, total resection of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $866.30	Benefit: 75% = $649.75	85% = $795.10	
52129	
MAXILLA, total resection of both maxillae (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,159.70	Benefit: 75% = $869.80	85% = $1,088.50	
52130	
BONE GRAFT, not being a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $425.70	Benefit: 75% = $319.30	85% = $361.85	
52131	
BONE GRAFT WITH INTERNAL FIXATION, not being a service to which an item in the range 

(a)	51900 to 52186; or
(b)	52303 to 53460 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $588.75	Benefit: 75% = $441.60	85% = $517.55	
52132	
TRACHEOSTOMY (Anaes.)
Fee: $239.50	Benefit: 75% = $179.65	85% = $203.60	
52133	
CRICOTHYROSTOMY by direct stab or Seldinger technique, using Minitrach or similar device (Anaes.)
Fee: $87.60	Benefit: 75% = $65.70	85% = $74.50	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52135	
POST-OPERATIVE or POST-NASAL HAEMORRHAGE, or both, control of, where undertaken in the operating theatre of a hospital (Anaes.)
Fee: $138.85	Benefit: 75% = $104.15	85% = $118.05	
52138	
MAXILLARY ARTERY, ligation of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $431.55	Benefit: 75% = $323.70	85% = $366.85	
52141	
FACIAL, MANDIBULAR or LINGUAL ARTERY or VEIN or ARTERY and VEIN, ligation of, not being a service to which item 52138 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $426.90	Benefit: 75% = $320.20	85% = $362.90	
52144	
FOREIGN BODY, deep, removal of using interventional imaging techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $397.90	Benefit: 75% = $298.45	85% = $338.25	
52147	
DUCT OF MAJOR SALIVARY GLAND, transposition of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $375.45	Benefit: 75% = $281.60	85% = $319.15	
52148	
PAROTID DUCT, repair of, using micro-surgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $663.70	Benefit: 75% = $497.80	85% = $592.50	
52158	
SUBMANDIBULAR DUCTS, relocation of, for surgical control of drooling (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,068.60	Benefit: 75% = $801.45	85% = $997.40	
52180	
MALIGNANT DISEASE

AGGRESSIVE OR POTENTIALLY MALIGNANT BONE OR DEEP SOFT TISSUE TUMOUR, biopsy of (not including aftercare) (Anaes.)
Fee: $181.10	Benefit: 75% = $135.85	85% = $153.95	
52182	
BONE OR MALIGNANT DEEP SOFT TISSUE TUMOUR, lesional or marginal excision of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $398.60	Benefit: 75% = $298.95	85% = $338.85	
52184	
BONE TUMOUR, lesional or marginal excision of, combined with any 1 of: liquid nitrogen freezing, autograft, allograft or cementation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $588.75	Benefit: 75% = $441.60	85% = $517.55	
52186	
BONE TUMOUR, lesional or marginal excision of, combined with any 2 or more of: liquid nitrogen freezing, autograft, allograft or cementation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $724.70	Benefit: 75% = $543.55	85% = $653.50	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O4 - PLASTIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE	
52300	
SINGLE-STAGE LOCAL FLAP, where indicated, repair to 1 defect, with skin or mucosa (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $273.60	Benefit: 75% = $205.20	85% = $232.60	
52303	
SINGLE-STAGE LOCAL FLAP, where indicated, repair to 1 defect, with buccal pad of fat (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $390.70	Benefit: 75% = $293.05	85% = $332.10	
52306	
SINGLE-STAGE LOCAL FLAP, where indicated, repair to 1 defect, using temporalis muscle (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $579.60	Benefit: 75% = $434.70	85% = $508.40	
52309	
FREE GRAFTING (mucosa or split skin) of a granulating area (Anaes.)
Fee: $196.95	Benefit: 75% = $147.75	85% = $167.45	
52312	
FREE GRAFTING (mucosa, split skin or connective tissue) to 1 defect, including elective dissection (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $273.60	Benefit: 75% = $205.20	85% = $232.60	
52315	
FREE GRAFTING, FULL THICKNESS, to 1 defect (mucosa or skin) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.80	Benefit: 75% = $341.85	85% = $387.45	
52318	
BONE GRAFT, harvesting of, via separate incision, being a service associated with a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies - Autogenous - small quantity (Anaes.)
Fee: $135.90	Benefit: 75% = $101.95	85% = $115.55	
52319	
BONE GRAFT, harvesting of, via separate incision, being a service associated with a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies - Autogenous - large quantity (Anaes.)
Fee: $226.55	Benefit: 75% = $169.95	85% = $192.60	
52321	
FOREIGN IMPLANT (NON-BIOLOGICAL), insertion of, for CONTOUR RECONSTRUCTION of pathological deformity, not being a service associated with a service to which item 52624 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.80	Benefit: 75% = $341.85	85% = $387.45	
52324	
DIRECT FLAP REPAIR, using tongue, first stage (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.80	Benefit: 75% = $341.85	85% = $387.45	
52327	
DIRECT FLAP REPAIR, using tongue, second stage (Anaes.)
Fee: $226.15	Benefit: 75% = $169.65	85% = $192.25	
52330	
PALATAL DEFECT (oro-nasal fistula), plastic closure of, including services to which item 52300, 52303, 52306 or 52324 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $752.30	Benefit: 75% = $564.25	85% = $681.10	
52333	
CLEFT PALATE, primary repair (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $752.30	Benefit: 75% = $564.25	85% = $681.10	
52336	
CLEFT PALATE, secondary repair, closure of fistula using local flaps (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $470.25	Benefit: 75% = $352.70	85% = $399.75	
52337	
ALVEOLAR CLEFT (congenital) unilateral, grafting of, including plastic closure of associated oro-nasal fistulae and ridge augmentation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,028.60	Benefit: 75% = $771.45	85% = $957.40	
52339	
CLEFT PALATE, secondary repair, lengthening procedure (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $535.50	Benefit: 75% = $401.65	85% = $464.30	
52342	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, unilateral osteotomy or osteectomy of, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $930.15	Benefit: 75% = $697.65	85% = $858.95	
52345	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, unilateral osteotomy or osteectomy of, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,049.00	Benefit: 75% = $786.75	85% = $977.80	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52348	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, bilateral osteotomy or osteectomy of, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,185.40	Benefit: 75% = $889.05	85% = $1,114.20	
52351	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, bilateral osteotomy of osteectomy of, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,331.25	Benefit: 75% = $998.45	85% = $1,260.05	
52354	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures on the 1 jaw, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,349.55	Benefit: 75% = $1,012.20	85% = $1,278.35	
52357	
MANDIBLE or MAXILLA, osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures on the 1 jaw, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,519.35	Benefit: 75% = $1,139.55	85% = $1,448.15	
52360	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 2 such procedures of each jaw, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,550.00	Benefit: 75% = $1,162.50	85% = $1,478.80	
52363	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 2 such procedures of each jaw, including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,743.75	Benefit: 75% = $1,307.85	85% = $1,672.55	
52366	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, complex bilateral osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures of 1 jaw and 2 such procedures of the other jaw, including genioplasty when performed and transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,705.15	Benefit: 75% = $1,278.90	85% = $1,633.95	
52369	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, complex bilateral osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures of 1 jaw and 2 such procedures of the other jaw, including genioplasty when performed and transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,917.20	Benefit: 75% = $1,437.90	85% = $1,846.00	
52372	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, complex bilateral osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures of each jaw, including genioplasty when performed and transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $1,860.30	Benefit: 75% = $1,395.25	85% = $1,789.10	
52375	
MANDIBLE and MAXILLA, complex bilateral osteotomies or osteectomies of, involving 3 or more such procedures of each jaw, including genioplasty when performed and transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.8 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $2,083.70	Benefit: 75% = $1,562.80	85% = $2,012.50	
52378	
GENIOPLASTY including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.9 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $720.30	Benefit: 75% = $540.25	85% = $649.10	
52379	
FACE, contour reconstruction of 1 region, using autogenous bone or cartilage graft (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,231.00	Benefit: 75% = $923.25	85% = $1,159.80	
52380	
MIDFACIAL OSTEOTOMIES - Le Fort II, Modified Le Fort III (Nasomalar), Modified Le Fort III (Malar-Maxillary), Le Fort III involving 3 or more osteotomies of the midface including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $2,096.10	Benefit: 75% = $1,572.10	85% = $2,024.90	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
52382	
MIDFACIAL OSTEOTOMIES - Le Fort II, Modified Le Fort III (Nasomalar), Modified Le Fort III (Malar-Maxillary), Le Fort III involving 3 or more osteotomies of the midface including transposition of nerves and vessels and bone grafts taken from the same site and stabilisation with fixation by wires, screws, plates or pins, or any combination (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $2,512.65	Benefit: 75% = $1,884.50	85% = $2,441.45	
52420	
MANDIBLE, fixation by intermaxillary wiring, excluding wiring for obesity
Fee: $232.00	Benefit: 75% = $174.00	85% = $197.20	
52424	
DERMIS, DERMOFAT OR FASCIA GRAFT (excluding transfer of fat by injection) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.70	Benefit: 75% = $341.80	85% = $387.35	
52430	
MICROVASCULAR REPAIR OF, using microsurgical techniques, with restoration of continuity of artery or vein of distal extremity or digit (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,049.00	Benefit: 75% = $786.75	85% = $977.80	
52440	
CLEFT LIP, unilateral - primary repair, 1 stage, without anterior palate repair (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $520.85	Benefit: 75% = $390.65	85% = $449.65	
52442	
CLEFT LIP, unilateral - primary repair, 1 stage, with anterior palate repair (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $651.20	Benefit: 75% = $488.40	85% = $580.00	
52444	
CLEFT LIP, bilateral - primary repair, 1 stage, without anterior palate repair (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $723.40	Benefit: 75% = $542.55	85% = $652.20	
52446	
CLEFT LIP, bilateral - primary repair, 1 stage, with anterior palate repair (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $853.85	Benefit: 75% = $640.40	85% = $782.65	
52450	
CLEFT LIP, partial revision, including minor flap revision alignment and adjustment, including revision of minor whistle deformity if performed (Anaes.)
Fee: $289.35	Benefit: 75% = $217.05	85% = $245.95	
52452	
CLEFT LIP, total revision, including major flap revision, muscle reconstruction and revision of major whistle deformity (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $470.25	Benefit: 75% = $352.70	85% = $399.75	
52456	
CLEFT LIP RECONSTRUCTION using full thickness flap (Abbe or similar), first stage (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $795.95	Benefit: 75% = $597.00	85% = $724.75	
52458	
CLEFT LIP RECONSTRUCTION using full thickness flap (Abbe or similar), second stage (Anaes.)
Fee: $289.35	Benefit: 75% = $217.05	85% = $245.95	
52460	
VELO-PHARYNGEAL INCOMPETENCE, pharyngeal flap for, or pharyngoplasty for (Anaes.)
Fee: $752.30	Benefit: 75% = $564.25	85% = $681.10	
52480	
COMPOSITE GRAFT (Chondro-cutaneous or chondro-mucosal) to nose, ear or eyelid (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $483.25	Benefit: 75% = $362.45	85% = $412.05	
52482	
MACROCHEILIA or macroglossia, operation for (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $464.95	Benefit: 75% = $348.75	85% = $395.25	
52484	
MACROSTOMIA, operation for (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $553.50	Benefit: 75% = $415.15	85% = $482.30	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O5 - PREPROSTHETIC	
52600	
MANDIBULAR OR PALATAL EXOSTOSIS, excision of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $325.55	Benefit: 75% = $244.20	85% = $276.75	
52603	
MYLOHYOID RIDGE, reduction of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $311.15	Benefit: 75% = $233.40	85% = $264.50	
52606	
MAXILLARY TUBEROSITY, reduction of (Anaes.)
Fee: $237.35	Benefit: 75% = $178.05	85% = $201.75	
52609	
PAPILLARY HYPERPLASIA OF THE PALATE, removal of - less than 5 lesions (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $311.15	Benefit: 75% = $233.40	85% = $264.50	
52612	
PAPILLARY HYPERPLASIA OF THE PALATE, removal of - 5 to 20 lesions (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $390.70	Benefit: 75% = $293.05	85% = $332.10	
52615	
PAPILLARY HYPERPLASIA OF THE PALATE, removal of - more than 20 lesions (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $484.75	Benefit: 75% = $363.60	85% = $413.55	
52618	
VESTIBULOPLASTY, submucosal or open, including excision of muscle and skin or mucosal graft when performed - unilateral or bilateral (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $564.25	Benefit: 75% = $423.20	85% = $493.05	
52621	
FLOOR OF MOUTH LOWERING (Obwegeser or similar procedure), including excision of muscle and skin or mucosal graft when performed - unilateral (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $564.25	Benefit: 75% = $423.20	85% = $493.05	
52624	
ALVEOLAR RIDGE AUGMENTATION with bone or alloplast or both - unilateral (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.70	Benefit: 75% = $341.80	85% = $387.35	
52626	
ALVEOLAR RIDGE AUGMENTATION - unilateral, insertion of tissue expanding device into maxillary or mandibular alveolar ridge region for (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $279.50	Benefit: 75% = $209.65	85% = $237.60	
52627	
OSSEO-INTEGRATION PROCEDURE - in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, extra oral implantation of titanium fixture (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $484.75	Benefit: 75% = $363.60	85% = $413.55	
52630	
OSSEO-INTEGRATION PROCEDURE - in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, fixation of transcutaneous abutment (Anaes.)
Fee: $179.40	Benefit: 75% = $134.55	85% = $152.50	
52633	
OSSEO-INTEGRATION PROCEDURE - intra-oral implantation of titanium fixture to facilitate restoration of the dentition following resection of part of the maxilla or mandible for benign or malignant tumours (Anaes.)
Fee: $484.75	Benefit: 75% = $363.60	85% = $413.55	
52636	
OSSEO-INTEGRATION PROCEDURE - fixation of transmucosal abutment to fixtures placed following resection of part of the maxilla or mandible for benign or malignant tumours (Anaes.)
Fee: $179.40	Benefit: 75% = $134.55	85% = $152.50	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O6 - NEUROSURGICAL	
52800	
NEUROLYSIS BY OPEN OPERATION, without transposition, not being a service associated with a service to which item 52803 applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $266.30	Benefit: 75% = $199.75	85% = $226.40	
52803	
NERVE TRUNK, internal (interfascicular), NEUROLYSIS of, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $383.45	Benefit: 75% = $287.60	85% = $325.95	
52806	
NEURECTOMY, NEUROTOMY or REMOVAL OF TUMOUR from superficial peripheral nerve (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $266.30	Benefit: 75% = $199.75	85% = $226.40	
52809	
NEURECTOMY, NEUROTOMY or REMOVAL OF TUMOUR from deep peripheral nerve (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.80	Benefit: 75% = $341.85	85% = $387.45	
52812	
NERVE TRUNK, PRIMARY repair of, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $651.20	Benefit: 75% = $488.40	85% = $580.00	
52815	
NERVE TRUNK, SECONDARY repair of, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $687.30	Benefit: 75% = $515.50	85% = $616.10	
52818	
NERVE, TRANSPOSITION OF (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $455.80	Benefit: 75% = $341.85	85% = $387.45	
52821	
NERVE GRAFT TO NERVE TRUNK, (cable graft) including harvesting of nerve graft using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $991.20	Benefit: 75% = $743.40	85% = $920.00	
52824	
PERIPHERAL BRANCHES OF THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE, cryosurgery of, for pain relief (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $426.90	Benefit: 75% = $320.20	85% = $362.90	
52826	
INJECTION OF PRIMARY BRANCH OF TRIGEMINAL NERVE with alcohol, cortisone, phenol, or similar substance (Anaes.)
Fee: $228.60	Benefit: 75% = $171.45	85% = $194.35	
52828	
CUTANEOUS NERVE,  primary repair of, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $339.95	Benefit: 75% = $255.00	85% = $289.00	
52830	
CUTANEOUS NERVE,  secondary repair of, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $448.45	Benefit: 75% = $336.35	85% = $381.20	
52832	
CUTANEOUS NERVE, nerve graft to, using microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $615.00	Benefit: 75% = $461.25	85% = $543.80	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O7 - EAR, NOSE & THROAT	
53000	
MAXILLARY ANTRUM, PROOF PUNCTURE AND LAVAGE OF (Anaes.)
Fee: $31.30	Benefit: 75% = $23.50	85% = $26.65	
53003	
MAXILLARY ANTRUM, proof puncture and lavage of, under general anaesthesia (requiring admission to hospital) not being a service associated with a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $88.45	Benefit: 75% = $66.35	85% = $75.20	
53004	
MAXILLARY ANTRUM, LAVAGE OF - each attendance at which the procedure is performed, including any associated consultation (Anaes.)
Fee: $34.25	Benefit: 75% = $25.70	85% = $29.15	
53006	
ANTROSTOMY (RADICAL) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $501.50	Benefit: 75% = $376.15	85% = $430.30	
53009	
ANTRUM, intranasal operation on, or removal of foreign body from (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $284.50	Benefit: 75% = $213.40	85% = $241.85	
53012	
ANTRUM, drainage of, through tooth socket (Anaes.)
Fee: $113.10	Benefit: 75% = $84.85	85% = $96.15	
53015	
ORO-ANTRAL FISTULA, plastic closure of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $565.35	Benefit: 75% = $424.05	85% = $494.15	
53016	
NASAL SEPTUM, septoplasty, submucous resection or closure of septal perforation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $464.95	Benefit: 75% = $348.75	85% = $395.25	
53017	
NASAL SEPTUM, reconstruction of (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $580.00	Benefit: 75% = $435.00	85% = $508.80	
53019	
MAXILLARY SINUS, BONE GRAFT to floor of maxillary sinus following elevation of mucosal lining (sinus lift procedure), (unilateral) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $558.85	Benefit: 75% = $419.15	85% = $487.65	
53052	
POST-NASAL SPACE, direct examination of, with or without biopsy (Anaes.)
Fee: $118.20	Benefit: 75% = $88.65	85% = $100.50	
53054	
NASENDOSCOPY or SINOSCOPY or FIBREOPTIC EXAMINATION of NASOPHARYNX one or more of these procedures (Anaes.)
Fee: $118.20	Benefit: 75% = $88.65	85% = $100.50	
53056	
EXAMINATION OF NASAL CAVITY or POST-NASAL SPACE, or NASAL CAVITY AND POST-NASAL SPACE, UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA, not being a service associated with a service to which another item in this Group applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $69.20	Benefit: 75% = $51.90	85% = $58.85	
53058	
NASAL HAEMORRHAGE, POSTERIOR, ARREST OF, with posterior nasal packing with or without cauterisation and with or without anterior pack (excluding aftercare) (Anaes.)
Fee: $118.20	Benefit: 75% = $88.65	85% = $100.50	
53060	
CAUTERISATION (other than by chemical means) OR CAUTERISATION by chemical means when performed under general anaesthesia OR DIATHERMY OF SEPTUM, TURBINATES FOR OBSTRUCTION OR HAEMORRHAGE SECONDARY TO SURGERY (OR TRAUMA) - 1 or more of these procedures (including any consultation on the same occasion) not being a service associated with any other operation on the nose (Anaes.)
Fee: $96.70	Benefit: 75% = $72.55	85% = $82.20	
53062	
POST SURGICAL NASAL HAEMORRHAGE, arrest of during an episode of epistaxis by cauterisation or nasal cavity packing or both (Anaes.)
Fee: $86.55	Benefit: 75% = $64.95	85% = $73.60	
53064	
CRYOTHERAPY TO NOSE in the treatment of nasal haemorrhage (Anaes.)
Fee: $156.75	Benefit: 75% = $117.60	85% = $133.25	
53068	
TURBINECTOMY or TURBINECTOMIES, partial or total, unilateral (Anaes.)
Fee: $131.30	Benefit: 75% = $98.50	85% = $111.65	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
53070	
TURBINATES, submucous resection of, unilateral (Anaes.)
Fee: $171.30	Benefit: 75% = $128.50	85% = $145.65	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O8 - TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT	
53200	
MANDIBLE, treatment of a dislocation of, not requiring open reduction (Anaes.)
Fee: $68.00	Benefit: 75% = $51.00	85% = $57.80	
53203	
MANDIBLE, treatment of a dislocation of, requiring open reduction (Anaes.)
Fee: $114.20	Benefit: 75% = $85.65	85% = $97.10	
53206	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, manipulation of, performed in the operating theatre of a hospital, not being a service associated with a service to which another item in Groups O3 to O9 applies (Anaes.)
Fee: $137.55	Benefit: 75% = $103.20	85% = $116.95	
53209	
GLENOID FOSSA, ZYGOMATIC ARCH and TEMPORAL BONE, reconstruction of (Obwegeser technique) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,586.60	Benefit: 75% = $1,189.95	85% = $1,515.40	
53212	
ABSENT CONDYLE and ASCENDING RAMUS in hemifacial microsomia, construction of, not including harvesting of graft material (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $857.10	Benefit: 75% = $642.85	85% = $785.90	
53215	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, arthroscopy of, with or without biopsy, not being a service associated with any other arthroscopic procedure of that joint (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $393.25	Benefit: 75% = $294.95	85% = $334.30	
53218	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, arthroscopy of, removal of loose bodies, debridement, or treatment of adhesions - 1 or more such procedures (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $629.00	Benefit: 75% = $471.75	85% = $557.80	
53220	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, arthrotomy of, not being a service to which another item in this Group applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $317.10	Benefit: 75% = $237.85	85% = $269.55	
53221	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, open surgical exploration of, with or without microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $839.25	Benefit: 75% = $629.45	85% = $768.05	
53224	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, open surgical exploration of, with condylectomy or condylotomy, with or without microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $930.35	Benefit: 75% = $697.80	85% = $859.15	
53225	
ARTHROCENTESIS, irrigation of temporomandibular joint after insertion of 2 cannuli into the appropriate joint space(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $279.50	Benefit: 75% = $209.65	85% = $237.60	
53226	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, synovectomy of, not being a service to which another item in this Group applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $300.50	Benefit: 75% = $225.40	85% = $255.45	
53227	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, open surgical exploration of, with or without meniscus or capsular surgery, including meniscectomy when performed, with or without microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,143.20	Benefit: 75% = $857.40	85% = $1,072.00	
53230	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, open surgical exploration of, with meniscus, capsular and condylar head surgery, with or without microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,287.75	Benefit: 75% = $965.85	85% = $1,216.55	
53233	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, surgery of, involving procedures to which items 53224, 53226, 53227 and 53230 apply and also involving the use of tissue flaps, or cartilage graft, or allograft implants, with or without microsurgical techniques (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $1,447.05	Benefit: 75% = $1,085.30	85% = $1,375.85	
53236	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, stabilisation of, involving 1 or more of: repair of capsule, repair of ligament or internal fixation, not being a service to which another item in this Group applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $452.85	Benefit: 75% = $339.65	85% = $384.95	
53239	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, arthrodesis of, not being a service to which another item in this Group applies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $452.85	Benefit: 75% = $339.65	85% = $384.95	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
53242	
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT OR JOINTS, application of external fixator to, other than for treatment of fractures (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $300.50	Benefit: 75% = $225.40	85% = $255.45	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O9 - TREATMENT OF FRACTURES	
53400	
MAXILLA, unilateral or bilateral, treatment of fracture of, not requiring splinting
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $124.30	Benefit: 75% = $93.25	85% = $105.70	
53403	
MANDIBLE, treatment of fracture of, not requiring splinting
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $151.85	Benefit: 75% = $113.90	85% = $129.10	
53406	
MAXILLA, treatment of fracture of, requiring splinting, wiring of teeth, circumosseous fixation or external fixation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $391.25	Benefit: 75% = $293.45	85% = $332.60	
53409	
MANDIBLE, treatment of fracture of, requiring  splinting, wiring of teeth, circumosseous fixation or external fixation (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $391.25	Benefit: 75% = $293.45	85% = $332.60	
53410	
ZYGOMATIC BONE, treatment of fracture of, not requiring surgical reduction
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $82.40	Benefit: 75% = $61.80	85% = $70.05	
53411	
ZYGOMATIC BONE, treatment of fracture of, requiring surgical reduction by a temporal, intra-oral or other approach (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $229.75	Benefit: 75% = $172.35	85% = $195.30	
53412	
ZYGOMATIC BONE, treatment of fracture of, requiring surgical reduction and involving internal or external fixation at 1 site (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $377.25	Benefit: 75% = $282.95	85% = $320.70	
53413	
ZYGOMATIC BONE, treatment of fracture of, requiring surgical reduction and involving internal or external fixation or both at 2 sites (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $462.15	Benefit: 75% = $346.65	85% = $392.85	
53414	
ZYGOMATIC BONE, treatment of fracture of, requiring surgical reduction and involving internal or external fixation or both at 3 sites (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $530.95	Benefit: 75% = $398.25	85% = $459.75	
53415	
MAXILLA, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $419.15	Benefit: 75% = $314.40	85% = $356.30	
53416	
MANDIBLE, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $419.15	Benefit: 75% = $314.40	85% = $356.30	
53418	
MAXILLA, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction and internal fixation not involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $544.90	Benefit: 75% = $408.70	85% = $473.70	
53419	
MANDIBLE, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction and internal fixation not involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $544.90	Benefit: 75% = $408.70	85% = $473.70	
53422	
MAXILLA, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction and internal fixation involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $691.50	Benefit: 75% = $518.65	85% = $620.30	
53423	
MANDIBLE, treatment of fracture of, requiring open reduction and internal fixation involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $691.50	Benefit: 75% = $518.65	85% = $620.30	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
53424	
MAXILLA, treatment of a complicated fracture of, involving viscera, blood vessels or nerves, requiring open reduction not involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $593.30	Benefit: 75% = $445.00	85% = $522.10	
53425	
MANDIBLE, treatment of a complicated fracture of, involving viscera, blood vessels or nerves, requiring open reduction not involving plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $593.30	Benefit: 75% = $445.00	85% = $522.10	
53427	
MAXILLA, treatment of a complicated fracture of, involving viscera, blood vessels or nerves, requiring open reduction involving the use of plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $810.35	Benefit: 75% = $607.80	85% = $739.15	
53429	
MANDIBLE, treatment of a complicated fracture of, involving viscera, blood vessels or nerves, requiring open reduction involving the use of plate(s) (Anaes.) (Assist.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $810.35	Benefit: 75% = $607.80	85% = $739.15	
53439	
MANDIBLE, treatment of a closed fracture of, involving a joint surface (Anaes.)
(See para OM4.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $229.75	Benefit: 75% = $172.35	85% = $195.30	
53453	
ORBITAL CAVITY, reconstruction of a wall or floor with or without foreign implant (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $464.95	Benefit: 75% = $348.75	85% = $395.25	
53455	
ORBITAL CAVITY, bone or cartilage graft to orbital wall or floor including reduction of prolapsed or entrapped orbital contents (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $546.15	Benefit: 75% = $409.65	85% = $474.95	
53458	
NASAL BONES, treatment of fracture of, not being a service to which item 53459 or 53460 applies
Fee: $41.40	Benefit: 75% = $31.05	85% = $35.20	
53459	
NASAL BONES, treatment of fracture of, by reduction (Anaes.)
Fee: $226.55	Benefit: 75% = $169.95	85% = $192.60	
53460	
NASAL BONES, treatment of fractures of, by open reduction involving osteotomies (Anaes.) (Assist.)
Fee: $462.15	Benefit: 75% = $346.65	85% = $392.85	

ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL	
	GROUP O10 - DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND INVESTIGATIONS	
53600	
SKIN SENSITIVITY TESTING for allergens to anaesthetics and materials used in OMS surgery, USING 1 TO 20 ALLERGENS
(See para OM4.11 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $37.45	Benefit: 75% = $28.10	85% = $31.85	
	GROUP O11 - REGIONAL OR FIELD NERVE BLOCKS	
53700	
(Note. Where an anaesthetic combines a regional nerve block with a general anaesthetic for an operative procedure, benefits will be paid only under the anaesthetic item relevant to the operation. The items in this Group are to be used in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery and are not to be used for dental procedures (eg. restorative dentistry or dental extraction.))

TRIGEMINAL NERVE, primary division of, injection of an anaesthetic agent
Fee: $120.10	Benefit: 75% = $90.10	85% = $102.10	
53702	
TRIGEMINAL NERVE, peripheral branch of, injection of an anaesthetic agent
Fee: $60.15	Benefit: 75% = $45.15	85% = $51.15	
53704	
FACIAL NERVE, injection of an anaesthetic agent
Fee: $36.25	Benefit: 75% = $27.20	85% = $30.85	
53706	
NERVE BRANCH, destruction by a neurolytic agent, not being a service to which any other item in this Group applies
(See para OM4.12 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Fee: $120.10	Benefit: 75% = $90.10	85% = $102.10	

INDEX

A

Abcess, incision with drainage, requiring admission	52055
Abscess, deep, percutaneous drainage	52058
Abscess, drainage tube, exchange of	52059
Abscess, large, incision with drainage,requiring admission	52057
Alveolar ridge augmentation	52624
Alveolar ridge augmentation, cleft grafting of	52337
Antrobuccal fistula operation	53015
Antroscopy of temporomandibular joint	53218
Antrostomy, radical	53006
Antrum, drainage of, through tooth socket	53012
Antrum, intranasal operation, or removal of foreign body	53009
Antrum, maxillary, proof puncture and lavage of	53000
Antrum, maxillary, removal of foreign body from	53009
Arch bars, to maxilla or mandible, removal of	52106
Artery, facial, mandibular or lingual, ligation of	52141
Artery, maxillary, ligation of	52138
Arthrocentesis, with irrigation of temporomandibular joint	53225
Aspiration biopsy, one or more jaw cysts	52021
Assistance at operation	51803
Attendance	51703
Axillary sinus, excision of	52033

B

Basal cell carcinoma, complicated, removal	52054
Basal cell carcinoma, uncomplicated, removal	52039
Basal cell carcinoma,uncomplicated, removal	52042
Biopsy, aspiration of jaw cysts	52021
Biopsy, aspiration of jaw cysts, lymph gland, muscle or other 
       deep tissue or org	52027
Biopsy, aspiration of jaw cysts, skin or mucous membrane	52024
Bone, graft, harvesting of, via separate incision	52319
Bone, graft, to other bones	52130
Bone, graft, with internal fixation	52131
Bone, growth stimulator	52095
Bone, tumour, malignant, operations for	52184
Bone,cyst, injection into or aspiration of	52064

C

Calculus, removal of, salivary gland duct	52075
Caldwell-Luc's operation	53006
Carbuncle, incision with drainage, in operating theatre	52057
Cauterisation, septum/turbinates/pharynx	53060
Cellulitis, incision with drainage, not requiring GA	52055
Cleft lip, operations for	52446
Cleft palate, palate, secondary repair, closure of fistula	52336
Cleft palate, palate, secondary repair, lengthening procedure	52339
Cleft palate, primary repair	52333
Composite graft to nose, ear or eyelid	52482
Condylectomy/condylotomy	53224
Contour reconstruction, insertion of foreign implants	52321
Cricothyrostomy	52133
Cutaneous nerve, nerve graft to	52832
Cutaneous nerve, repair of	52830
Cyst, jaw, aspiration biopsy of, mandible or maxilla, segmental 
       resection of	52114
Cyst, jaw, not otherwise covered, removal of	52048
Cyst, jaw,aspiration biopsy of	52021

D

Deep tissue or organ, biopsy of	52027
Dermis, dermofat or fascia graft	52424
Dermoid, excision	52042
Diathermy, salivary gland duct	52072
Dilatation,salivary gland duct	52072
Dislocation, mandible, treatment of	53200
Duct, salivary gland, diathermy or dilatation of	52072
Duct, salivary gland, removal of calculus from	52075
Duct, sublingual gland, removal of calculus from	52075

E

Endo-biopsy	52024
Endoscopic, laser therapy of upper aerodigestive tract	52035
Exostosis, mandibular or palatal, excision of	52600
External fixation, orthopaedic, removal	52097

F

Face, contour reconstruction	52379
Facial artery or vein, ligation of	52141
Fibroma, removal of	52039
Fistula, antrobuccal, operation for	53015
Fistula, oro-antral, plastic closure of	53015
Flap repair, direct	52324
Flap repair, single stage local	52300
Foreign body, antrum, removal of	53009
Foreign body, deep, removal , interventional imaging	52144
Foreign body, implants for contour reconstruction, insertion of	52321
Foreign body, maxillary sinus, removal of	53009
Foreign body, muscle/other deep tissue, removal of	52018
Foreign body, subcutaneous, removal, other	52015
Foreign body, superficial removal, other	52012
Foreign body, tendon, removal of	52144
Fracture, mandible or maxilla, treatment of	53418
Fracture, zygomatic bone, treatment of	53411
Free grafts, full thickness	52315
Free grafts, full thickness grafts, mucosa/split skin/connective 
       tissue	52309
Frenulum, mandibular or maxillary, repair of	52084
Furuncle, incision with drainage, in operating theatre	52057

G

Genioplasty	52378
Gland, lymph, biopsy of	52027
Gland, salivary, incision of	52057
Gland, salivary, meatotomy or marsupialisation	52075
Gland, salivary, removal of calculus from duct	52075
Gland, salivary, transportation of duct	52147
Gland, salivary,dilation or diathermy of duct	52072
Gland, sublingual, extirpation of	52069
Gland, submandibular, extirpation of	52066
Gland, submaxillary, extirpation of	52066
Gland, submaxillary, incision of	52057
Glenoid fossa, zygomatic arch, temporal bone, reconstruction	53209
Grafts, composite (chondrocutaneous/mucosal)	52480
Grafts, free, full thickness	52315
Grafts, mucosa or split skin	52312

H

Haematoma, aspiration of	52056
Haematoma, incision with drainage, not requiring GA	52055
Haematoma, large, incision with drainage, in operating theatre	52057
Haemorrhage, post-nasal and/or post-operative, control of	52135
Hemifacial microsomia, construction condyle and ramus	53212
Hyperplasia, papillary, of palate, removal of	52609
Hypertrophied tissue, removal of	52045

I

Innocent bone tumour, excision of	52063
Intranasal operation on antrum/foreign body	53009

J

Jaw dislocation, treatment of	53200
Jaw, aspiration biopsy of cyst/s	52021
Jaw, dislocation, treatment of	53203
Jaw, fracture, treatment of	53406
Jaw, operation on, for osteomyelitis	52090
Jaw, plastic and reconstructive operation on	52363

K

Keloid, excision of	52036
Kirschner wire, insertion of	52096

L

Lacerations, ear/eyelid/nose/lip, full thickness, repair of	52010
Lacerations, repair and suturing of	52000
Lavage and proof puncture of maxillary antrum	53000
Le Fort osteotomies	52382
Lingual artery or vein, ligation of	52141
Lip, full thickness wedge excision of	52108
Lipectomy, wedge excision	51906
Lipoma, removal of	52039
Local flap repair, single stage	52300
Lymph gland, muscle or other deep tissue or organ biopsy of	52027
Lymph node, biopsy of	52025
Lymphoid patches, removal of	52045

M

Macrocheilia, operation for	52482
Macrostomia, operation for	52484
Mandible, dislocation, treatment of	53203
Mandible, fixation by intermaxillary wiring	52420
Mandible, hemi-mandiblectomy of	52120
Mandible, hemi-mandibular reconstruction with bone graft	52122
Mandible, operation on, for osteomyelitis	52090
Mandible, or maxilla, fractures, treatment of	53409
Mandible, osteectomy of osteotomy of	53413
Mandible, removal of buried wire, pin or screw	52099
Mandible, removal of one or more plates	52369
Mandible, segmental resection of, for tumours or cysts	52114
Mandible, sub-total resection of	52117
Mandible, total resection of	52123
Mandibular artery or vein, exostosis, excision of	52600
Mandibular artery or vein, frenulum, repair of	52084
Manidbular artery or vein, ligation of	52141
Maxilla, operation on, for osteomyelitis	52090
Maxilla, or mandible, fractures, treatment of	53409
Maxilla, osteectomy or osteotomy of	52357
Maxilla, removal of buried wire, pin or screw	52102
Maxilla, removal of one or more plates	52105
Maxilla, sub-total resection of	52117
Maxilla, total resection of	52126
Maxillary antrum, artery, ligation of	52138
Maxillary antrum, frenulum, repair of	52084
Maxillary antrum, lavage of	53004
Maxillary antrum, proof puncture and lavage of	53003
Maxillary antrum, sinus, drainage of, through tooth socket	53012
Maxillary antrum, sinus, operations on	53006
Maxillary antrum, sinus, sinus lift procedure	53019
Maxillary antrum, tuberosity, reduction of	52606
Melanoma, excision of	52036
Micro-arterial graft	52434
Microvascular anastomosis repair using microsurgical techniques	52424
Microvascular anastomosis using microsurgical techniques	52430
Mouth, lowering of floor of (Oswegeser or similar)	52621
Mucous membrane, biopsy of	52024
Mucous membrane, repair of recent wound of	52001
Muscle, biopsy of	52027
Muscle, excision of	52060
Muscle, or other deep tissue, removal of foreign body	52018
Muscle, ruptured repair of	52061
Mylohyloid ridge, reduction of	52603

N

Naevus, excision of	52042
Nasal bones, treatment of fracture/s	53458
Nasal cavity and/or post nasal space, examination of	53056
Nasal cavity, packing for arrest of haemorrhage	53062
Nasal haemorrhage, arrest of	53058
Nasal haemorrhage, cryotherapy to	53064
Nasal septum, reconstruction	53017
Nasal septum, septoplasty	53016
Nasal, space, post, direct examination of	53052
Nasendoscopy	53054
Nerve, clock, regional or field	53704
Nerve, peripheral, neurectomy/neurotomy/tumour	52806
Nerve, transposition of	52818
Nerve, trigeminal, cryosurgery of	52824
Nerve, trunk, graft to	52821
Nerve, trunk, neurolysis of	52803
Nerve, trunk, repair of	52812
Neurectomy, peripheral nerve	52809
Neurolysis by open operation	52800
Neurolysis, of nerve trunk	52803
Node, lymph, biopsy of	52027

O

Orbital cavity, bone or cartilage graft to wall or floor	53455
Orbital cavity, reconstruction of wall or floor	53453
Oro-antral fistula, plastic closure of	53015
Orthopaedic pin or wire, insertion of	52096
Orthopaedic pin or wire, removal of	52102
Orthopaedic, plates, removal of	52105
Osseointegration procedure	52636
Osteectomy of mandible or maxilla	52357
Osteomyelitis, operation on mandible or maxilla	52090
Osteomyelitis, operation on skull	52092
Osteomyelitis,operation on combination of adjoining bones	52094
Osteotomies, mid-facial	52380
Osteotomy, of mandible or maxilla	52363

P

Palatal exostosis, excision of	52600
Palate, cleft, repair of	52333
Palate, papillary hyperplasia removal of	52612
Palate, plastic closure of defect of	52330
Papillary hyperplasia of the palate, removal of	52612
Papilloma, removal of	52042
Parotid duct, repair of	52148
Pharyngeal flap for velo-pharyngeal incompetence	52460
Pin, orthopaedic removal of	52102
Pin, orthopaedic, insertion of	52096
Pin, orthopaedic, removal of	52099
Plastic repair, free grafts	52315
Plastic repair, single stage, local flap	52303
Plates, orthopaedic, removal of	52018
Post nasal space, direct examination of with/without biopsy	53052
Post nasal space, examination under GA	53056
Premalignant lesions, cryotherapy, diathermy or carbon dioxide 
       laser	52034
Proof puncture of maxillary antrum	53003
preauricular sinus operation	52030

R

Radical antrostomy	53006
Ranula, removal of	52087
Reduction, of dislocation of mandible	53200
Rodent ulcer, operation for	52042

S

Salivary gland duct, diathermy or dilatation of	52072
Salivary gland duct, removal of calculus from	52075
Salivary gland duct, transposition of	52147
Salivary gland, incision of	52057
Salivary gland, repair of cutaneous fistula of	52073
Scar, removal of, not otherwise covered	52039
Sebaceous cyst, removal of	52036
Segmental resection, of mandible or maxilla for tumours	52114
Single stage local flap repair	52303
Sinus, excision of	52030
Sinus, maxillary, drainage of, through tooth socket	53012
Skin biopsy repair of recent wound	52006
Skin biopsy, of	52024
Skin,  sensitivity testing	53600
Skull, operation on, for osteomyelitis	52092
Subcutaneous, foreign body, removal, other	52015
Subcutaneous, tissue, repair of recent wound	52003
Sublingual gland duct, removal of calculus from	52075
Sublingual gland, extirpation of	52069
Submandibular abscess, incision of	52057
Submandibular ducts, relocation of	52158
Submandibular gland, extirpation of	52066
Submandibular gland, incision of	52057
Submaxillary gland, extirpation of	52066
Submaxillary gland, incision of	52057
Superficial foreign body, removal of	52012
Superficial, wound repair of	52000
Suture, of traumatic wounds	52006

T

Temporal, bone glenoid fossa/zygomatic arch, reconstruction of	53209
Temporomandibular joint, arthrodesis	53239
Temporomandibular joint, arthroscopy of	53218
Temporomandibular joint, arthrotomy	53220
Temporomandibular joint, external fixation, application of	53242
Temporomandibular joint, irrigation of	53225
Temporomandibular joint, manipulation of	53206
Temporomandibular joint, open surgical exploration of	53227
Temporomandibular joint, stabilisation of	53236
Temporomandibular joint, synovectomy of	53226
Tendon, foreign body in, removal of	52018
Tendon, or other deep tissue, foreign body in, removal of	52018
Tissue, subcutaneous, repair of recent wound	52009
Tongue, partial excision of	52078
Tongue, tie, repair of	52081
Tracheostomy	52132
Traumatic wounds, repair of	52001
Trigeminal nerve, injection with alcohol, cortisone, etc	52826
Tuberosity, maxillary, reduction of	52606
Tumour, bone, innocent, excision of	52063
Tumour, mandible or maxilla, segmental resection of	52114
Tumour, not otherwise covered, removal of	52042
Tumour, peripheral nerve, removal of	52809
Tumour, soft tissue, excision of	52051
Turbinates, submucous resection of	53070
Turbinectomy, partial or total	53018

V

Vein, facial, mandibular or lingual, ligation of	52141
Vermilionectomy	52111
Vestibuloplasty, unilateral or bilateral	52618

W

Washout, antrum	53000
Wire, orthopaedic, insertion of	52096
Wire, orthopaedic, removal of	52102
Wound, debridement under GA or major block	51900
Wound, dressing of, requiring GA	51902
Wound, traumatic, suture of	52001

Z

Zygomatic arch, reconstruction of	45788,53209
    bone, fracture, treatment of	47762-47771