Progress and expected timeline for Fees List update

Despite the delay in receiving the necessary information from the Department of Health, the AMA Fees List team has been working closely with the orthopaedic surgeon representatives on Federal Council; the Australian Orthopaedic Association and subspecialty craft groups to review the MBS changes.  

Before the AMA Fees List updates can be finalised, the AMA must undertake its robust assessment process. This involves consultation with relevant craft groups on the MBS changes and fee-setting methodology, before consideration and approval by the AMA Fees List Committee for inclusion in the AMA Fees List.

This process ensures the Fees List is clinically appropriate and reflects appropriate practice – and therefore a valuable tool for members and paying subscribers. 

The AMA will use the information received from the Department of Health (below) to update the Fees List with the 1 July MBS changes. 

Table: Dates information provided by the Department of Health on the 1 July MBS changes. 

*This is high level general information only and not does not include specific claiming information.

Background 

Orthopaedic surgery item changes 

On 1 July, there will be changes to 594 Orthopaedic surgery items as follows: 

• 168 new items; 

• 280 amended items; 

• 137 deleted items and replaced with new or amended items; and 

• 9 deleted items for services considered to be obsolete or no longer reflective of contemporary best practice. 

 The orthopaedic changes are for general, knee, hand and wrist, shoulder and elbow, hip, foot and ankle and paediatric orthopaedic surgery services. 

 General surgery item changes 

On 1 July, there will be changes to 156 general surgery MBS items including: 

• 35 new items;  

• 50 amended items;  

• 71 deleted items. 

 The General surgery MBS item changes pertain to: 

• Laparoscopy and Laparotomy 

• Small Bowel Resection 

• Abdominal Wall Hernias 

• Oesophageal; Stomach 

• Liver, Biliary 

• Pancreas; Spleen; Oncology; Lymph Nodes; Excisions 

• Bariatric surgery. 

 Cardiac surgery item changes 

On 1 July, there will be changes to 188 cardiac procedural items including: 

• 39 new items 

• 59 deleted items 

• 90 amended items. 

Enquiries regarding the AMA Fees List can be emailed to; feeslist@ama.com.au