Modernising Cardiac Surgical Services

This page provides information on the 1 July 2021 changes to MBS cardiac services.

Page last updated: 03 September 2021

On 1 July 2021, the Australian Government is making changes to modernise cardiac surgical services to ensure they reflect current medical practice, support high-value care and ensure patients receive procedures in line with current best practice. These changes follow recommendations from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce.

The range of changes to cardiac surgical services include updates to item descriptors, combining similar surgical procedures, introducing items that represent a complete medical service, incentivising advanced techniques, removal of procedures that no longer represent best practice, and reducing low value invasive angiography and ineffective coronary artery stenting.

1 July 2021 changes to Cardiac Surgical Services

Last Updated 12 May 2021
PDF version Factsheet on Modernising and Supporting High Value Care Cardiac Surgical Services (PDF 151 KB)
Word version Factsheet on Modernising and Supporting High Value Care Cardiac Surgical Services (Word 76 KB)

Webinar Presentation

Last Updated 12 May 2021
View Cardiac Surgery Webinar
Download Cardiac Surgery Webinar Presentation
PDF version of Cardiac Surgery Webinar (PDF 3,113 KB)

Cardiac Surgical Changes Communication Materials:

Changes to selective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention and related items

Last Updated 07 June 2021
PDF version Summary of changes to selective coronary angiography(best printed in A3) (PDF 217 KB)
Last Updated 06 June 2021
PDF version Summary of changes to percutaneous coronary intervention(best printed in A3) (PDF 276 KB)
Last Updated 26 August 2021
PDF version Quick Reference Guide – Changes to selective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention and related items (PDF 564 KB)
Word version Quick Reference Guide – Changes to selective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention and related items (Word 178 KB)

Changes to Coronary artery bypass graft, surgical valve and aortic surgical items


Last Updated 07 June 2021
PDF version Summary of changes to Coronary artery bypass graft(best printed in A3) (PDF 211 KB)
PDF version Summary of changes to surgical valve items(best printed in A3) (PDF 209 KB)
Last Updated 17 August 2021
PDF version Quick Reference Guide -Changes to Surgical items - Coronary Artery Bypass, Graft, Surgical Valve and Aortic Surgical items (PDF 306 KB)
Word version Quick Reference Guide -Changes to Surgical items - Coronary Artery Bypass, Graft, Surgical Valve and Aortic Surgical items (Word 107 KB)

Changes to other cardiac surgery items including items related to implanted devices

Last Updated 17 August 2021
PDF version Quick Reference Guide – Changes to other cardiac surgery items including items related to implanted devices (PDF 420 KB)
Word version Quick Reference Guide – Changes to other cardiac surgery items including items related to implanted devices (Word 121 KB)
Last Updated 17 August 2021
PDF version QRG for defibrillators and pacemaker claiming (PDF 107 KB)
Word version QRG for defibrillators and pacemaker claiming (Word 87 KB)

Minor changes to cardiac imaging items – administrative changes

Last Update 21 June 2021
PDF version Quick Reference Guide – Minor (administrative) changes to cardiac imaging items (PDF 295 KB)
Word version Quick Reference Guide – Minor (administrative) changes to cardiac imaging items (Word 99 KB)


Disclaimer:
Please note that the information provided is a general guide only. It is ultimately the responsibility of treating practitioners to use their professional judgment to determine the most clinically appropriate services to provide, and then to ensure that any services billed to Medicare fully meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the legislation.


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