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Make sure you read the relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item descriptors and explanatory notes at MBS Online.
Patient and claiming eligibility
A practice nurse is someone who is both:
- either a registered nurse or enrolled as a nurse
- employed (or services are retained) by a medical practitioner.
Practice nurses can deliver some services on behalf of and under the supervision of medical practitioners. Services must meet certain item requirements, as shown in the table below.
| Item | Service | Patient and claiming eligibility | Item requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10983 | Telehealth patient-end clinical support |
This service is available where it’s necessary to assist with a video-conferencing service rendered anywhere in Australia. |
You can claim this item if:
|
| 10987 | Health assessment follow up |
This service is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who've received a health assessment, including MBS items 228 or 715. It's also available to children who've received a health check as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. You can claim this item 10 times per patient per calendar year |
You can claim this item if a practice nurse provides the service consistent with the patient's health check. The service can be provided between further consultation with the patient's medical practitioner. As part of the service, the nurse can:
|
| 10997 | Chronic disease monitoring and support |
The service is available to patients with a GP Management Plan, Team Care Arrangements or Multidisciplinary Care Plan. The MBS items for these services are 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 721, 723, 729, 731 or 732. You can claim this item up to 5 times per patient per calendar year. |
You can claim this item if:
As part of the service, the nurse can:
|
| 16400 | Antenatal service |
You can't claim this item:
You can claim this item up to 10 times per patient per pregnancy. |
You can claim this item if the nurse provides an antenatal service at, or from, an eligible practice location in a regional, rural or remote area. |
These items don't apply to patients admitted to hospital.
Billing an attendance item and practice nurse item
In some instances, both the medical practitioner and the nurse may need to see the patient. If this is the case, you can claim both a practice nurse item and an attendance item. The duration of an attendance item doesn’t include the time a patient spends with the nurse.
Exceptions
Telehealth attendances
If both a nurse and a medical practitioner attend a telehealth consultation, you can only claim either the medical practitioner or nurse attendance item.
If you’re claiming a telehealth patient-end attendance item, you can’t include the time a patient spends with a nurse.
Antenatal attendances
The medical practitioner can claim if the consultation was before or following an antenatal service provided by a nurse. However, in these circumstances, you can’t claim the practice nurse item.
More information
Read more about:
- the Schedule at MBS Online
- education services for health professionals
- telehealth
- Better Access
- our website disclaimer
- Health Care Homes for health professionals.
Contact us for MBS item interpretation.
Provide your feedback on our education resources.