Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee - Vascular Interventional Radiology (VIR) Draft Report

Overview

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a list of health professional services (items) that the Australian Government subsidises. MBS items provide patient benefits for a wide range of health services including consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, and operations.

Established in 2021, the MBS Continuous Review is a program assurance function that conducts ongoing reviews of the MBS to ensure it is contemporary, aligned with best clinical practice, improves patient outcomes, and supports high quality care for all Australians.  

The objective of the MBS Continuous Review is to ensure the MBS:  

• Continues to support high-quality care, remains flexible, and stays up to date 

• Remains consistent, clear, and evidence based 

• Aligns with the needs of patients and health professionals alike. 

The Continuous Review is supported by the MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC), an independent and clinician-led non statutory committee comprised of health practitioners, health economics and research experts, and consumer representatives. Its role is to advise the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing on publicly funded services listed on the MBS.

Background

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Taskforce reviewed 290 vascular T8 surgical items, vascular-related digital subtraction angiography (DSA) items and diagnostic imaging items related to vascular care. After the Taskforce’s report was published in 2020, further input was provided by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), the Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia (IRSA), the Australian and New Zealand Society of Neuroradiology (ANZSNR), and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Vascular Surgery (ANZSVS).

This resulted in 3 key recommendations from the Taskforce:

• Develop a distinct place for endovascular/interventional radiology items on the MBS

• Here there is an endovascular approach equivalent to an existing open vascular surgical T8 item, amend the open approach item descriptor to allow the endovascular approach (when appropriate)

• Develop a single diagnostic DSA item for the MBS.

In April 2022, the then Department of Health and Aged Care nominated and requested a review by the MRAC of VIR services. This work would review and expand on the Taskforce’s report.

The Department sought MRAC’s advice on the following issues:

1. The creation of a new, stand-alone section of the MBS Category 3, Subcategory T8 – Surgical Operations - for vascular-related Interventional Radiology (IR) procedures or renaming of the vascular T8 section to ‘Vascular, Endovascular and Interventional Radiology’.
    
2. The creation of new MBS items for IR/Interventional Neuroradiology (INR) procedural and diagnostic services as proposed by RANZCR and ANZSNR, noting that:

• While RANZCR supported the range of INR procedures proposed by ANZSNR, it also provided a list of completely new MBS items distinct from ANZSNR’s set of proposed new and amended items; and
   
• Should the inclusion of existing diagnostic angiography fees for specific anatomical sites (corresponding with the procedural site) be included or considered an acceptable guide with respect to the proposed IR/INR bundled procedural items?

3. The extent to which there is support for the Taskforce recommendation to align the proposed INR items with the neurosurgery items, noting that INR procedures are also undertaken by neurosurgeons and neurologists.

4. Where possible, amend existing vascular open surgical approach items to include endovascular or hybrid repair (e.g. by any approach) or create new items.

The VIR Working Group deliberations and recommendations were premised on the following issues and basic principles:

• Vascular and IR/INR care exist within a rapidly evolving clinical and technological landscape

• Medicare expenditure is potentially limited

• There is a potential for reform of MBS items for diagnostic angiography, including diagnostic-only angiography and bundling with procedural services

• There should be an intention to treat when undertaking invasive diagnostic imaging

• A reconsideration of the role of aftercare is required.

Why your views matter

The MRAC seeks views from clinicians, peak bodies, consumers and other interested parties in relation to the Vascular interventional radiology (VIR) Working Group Draft Final Report.

The diverse perspectives, experience and knowledge of all stakeholders, including members of the community, are valued and will be considered by the MRAC in finalising its recommendations to Government.

A PDF and word version of the Vascular interventional radiology (VIR) Working Group Draft Final Report are available for download below (see documents under the 'Related' heading below). 

You are invited to submit your feedback on this report by 11.59PM on 22 October 2025. 

If you have any questions in relation to this consultation process, please contact MRAC.VIR@health.gov.au.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated.