Connecting Health Services With the Future: Overview for Patients

From 1 July 2011, Medicare and DVA rebates and financial incentives will be available for telehealth under the Connecting Health Services With the Future initiative. This page provides information about the initiative for patients.

---

In 2010, the Government committed to providing Medicare and DVA rebates to patients for video consultations across a range of medical specialties.

Telehealth services offer real benefits for Australians. This initiative will help Australians in remote, regional and outer metropolitan areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receiving care at an eligible Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS), and Australians in residential aged care to access specialist medical services earlier and without the time and expense of travelling to major cities.

Telehealth MBS Items

The government is introducing new Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) items for telehealth which will be available from 1 July 2011.

There will be rebates for video consultations with a wide range of specialists. There will also be rebates for services provided by a General Practitioner, other medical doctor, participating midwife, participating nurse practitioner, practice nurse or Aboriginal health worker who is with the patient during the video consultation with the remote specialist.

This means that an eligible patient can receive Medicare and DVA rebates for video consultations.

An eligible patient is a resident of an aged care facility, a patient of an eligible Aboriginal Medical Service or a patient who is located in a remote, regional or outer metropolitan location when they video conference with the specialist.

The maps at this link will help you work out if you are in an eligible area.