Painaustralia coordinates sector response for MBS review taskforce

The MBS Pain Management Clinical Committee has made some 32 recommendations across three major areas – recommendations for change, deletion and referrals and new items.  

The recommendations cover:

• changes to the current pain management items to reflect best practice and increasing targeted use of the MBS through better clarity of descriptions and explanatory notes
• deletions of outdated items and referrals to other clinical committees to ensure thorough and appropriate review
• suggested new areas of coverage that would provide significant benefits to patient health and improve value for money across the health system, and
• where it’s seen that the complete medical service could include imaging as part of clinical best practice, the Committee is of the opinion that MBS descriptors should be updated to reference this inclusion and the fee should be increased to support the consolidation of imaging options with the respective item.

 Once implemented, these items will have a large impact on the way pain management is currently funded and accessed.

Painaustralia is continuing to collate responses on behalf of the healthcare sector.  If you would like to contribute please send your thoughts to admin@painaustralia.org.au.