Changes to MBS - 26 February 2021

The 26 February 2021 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) files are available on the February 2021 downloads page.

Summary of Change for 26 February 2021

From March 2021, 16 new MBS items will be available to enable GPs and suitably qualified health professionals to assess patient’s for their suitability to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The MBS COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessment service is free to Medicare eligible patients and the MBS items must be bulk billed.

The Australian Government is committed to offering every person in Australia access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at no cost.

The MBS items are part of the Australian Government’s second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program (known as phase 1B). Under this phase, the Government will work with accredited general practices, General Practitioner-led Respiratory Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to vaccinate certain cohorts of persons aged 18 years of age or older. Accredited general practices will be supplied the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to commence vaccinating priority population groups, including persons 70 years of age or older, other health care workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders 55 years or older, persons with an underlying medical condition, and critical and high risk workers.

For more information to assist with understanding the intention of the MBS items please access the MBS COVID-19 Vaccine Suitability Assessment Service factsheet.