Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee Referred Chronic Condition Management Services Draft Report

Overview

The MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) referred chronic condition management items. The review supports the Government’s ongoing commitment to improve health outcomes for Australians with chronic conditions.  

This public consultation process addresses all recommendations on individual services, group services and expansion of eligible professions.

Background

In August 2024, the MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) began reviewing Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) referred chronic condition management services. The aim of the review is to assess whether these services adequately support eligible patients.

The MRAC is considering the following review questions: 

• What should the calendar year limit be for individual chronic condition management services?

• Should the existing individual chronic condition management service ‘floor’ of 20 minutes be increased? If so, what is an appropriate ‘floor’ and should this vary (for example, longer initial consult or time-tiering)?

• Should the existing condition specific restriction on group services be expanded beyond type 2 diabetes? If so, which conditions would benefit from group services, and which of the existing eligible individual health provider services are appropriate for group settings?

• Should the list of eligible individual health providers be expanded? If so, which health professions should be added?

The Chronic Condition Management Working Group was established to support the MRAC and inform its recommendations. The working group includes allied health professionals, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, medical practitioners and consumers. The working group met 7 times between 2024 and 2026.  

The working group considered MBS utilisation data, qualitative research (with peaks, eligible providers, and patients), systematic reviews and feedback from consultation to develop recommendations for MRAC consideration. These recommendations in response to the review questions have been incorporated into the draft final report 'Review of MBS-Referred Chronic Condition Management Services Report' with MRAC endorsing the report for public consultation.

The draft report can be viewed under the related heading below.

Why your views matter

The information obtained through the public consultation process enables the MRAC to assess the potential impact of draft recommendations.  

Your feedback will ensure the working group and MRAC are aware of stakeholder perspectives and experiences as well as any concerns or potential unintended consequences. Responses received will be considered prior to the finalisation of the Review of MBS-Referred Chronic Condition Management Services Report.