MBS Online
What is the MBS?
The MBS, or Medicare Benefits Schedule, is a comprehensive list of medical services subsidized by the Australian government's Medicare program. It covers a wide range of healthcare services, including doctor visits, diagnostic tests, and surgical procedures, ensuring affordable access to healthcare for Australian residents and eligible visitors.
About Medicare
How does MBS work?
What is covered under MBS?
How to search the MBS
How the MBS works​ and what is covered by the MBS:
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The MBS is a comprehensive list of medical services subsidised by the Australian government through Medicare. It ensures that citizens and eligible visitors have access to essential healthcare services while managing costs through a combination of government funding and patient contributions.
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​Medical Services: The MBS lists a wide array of medical services, including doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and specialist consultations. These services are provided by healthcare professionals such as general practitioners, specialists, and allied health practitioners.
Billing: When a patient receives a covered medical service, the healthcare provider bills the Australian government through Medicare for the service provided. The provider may charge the patient the full fee or accept the Medicare benefit as full payment (bulk billing), depending on their preference and the patient's eligibility.
Patient Contribution: If the provider charges more than the Medicare benefit, the patient pays the difference out of pocket. However, if the provider bulk bills, the patient pays nothing, making healthcare more affordable and accessible.
Medicare Benefit: Medicare covers a portion of the cost of the medical service, which is determined by a predetermined schedule of fees. The MBS item number assigned to each service corresponds to a specific benefit amount.
Patient Eligibility: Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible visitors are entitled to benefits under the MBS. Some services may require patients to meet specific criteria or pay additional fees if they don't qualify for Medicare benefits.
Safety Net: To protect individuals and families from high healthcare costs, Medicare offers a Medicare Safety Net. Once a patient's out-of-pocket expenses reach a certain threshold in a calendar year, they become eligible for higher Medicare benefits or even free medical services.
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Searching the MBS is easy!
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Visit the Medicare website with the following link
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Locate the MBS Online Search Tool.
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Input your keyword or code.
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Select "Search" to view results.
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Examine item codes, descriptions, and fees.
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If necessary, narrow your search.
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Click on a result for detailed information.
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Many people use our online MBS Cheat Sheet to help them have quick and easy access to the Item Numbers they need use. Find the link to our cheat sheet here.