based for testing in a laboratory spirometry (11509; 11512). New item – Similar to the test done in a Create a new MBS item. This service will be billed under its This test is done currently but there is Spirometry pre OR doctor’s surgery (item 11506) own MBS item. no MBS payment for it. The new item post bronchodilator but done either before OR and rebate will improve the assessment The Committee has suggested a MBS after using an inhaler such as and monitoring of patients with asthma fee of $20.55. Ventolin. For diagnosing and and other lung diseases. monitoring asthma and other lung diseases. New item – FeNO is a test to measure Create a new MBS item for This test is used for patients with more This will provided a separate MBS fee Laboratory based airway inflammation which FeNO with spirometry. complex lung disease who are under the for FeNO with spirometry for patients spirometry with may help in finding the best care of a specialist. It is laboratory who have airway inflammation as a Fraction of Exhaled treatment. based. FeNO is not useful if it is cause of their symptoms. Nitric Oxide (FeNO) performed alone. New item A relatively non-invasive way Introduce a new item with a This test is currently billed under At present, when doctors perform Cardiopulmonary to assess how the heart and higher MBS fee than for MBS two existing items. It would now be this test they bill two items (11503 Exercise Testing lungs work at the same time 11503. billed under one item and be and 1172). The new item, with fee and during exercise. available for patients: equivalent to item 11503 plus item with breathlessness but standard tests 1172, will mean that doctors will do not result in a diagnosis; or only need to bill one item. who are having major surgery and are at The test will target patients with high risk of a complication due to their specific symptoms who might lung or heart disease. benefit the most from the test An MBS fee that is equivalent to that for item 11503 plus item 1172 is recommended for the new item as these are the items doctors are currently using.
based spirometry for testing in a laboratory (11509; 11512). New item – Spirometry pre OR post bronchodilator Similar to the test done in a doctor’s surgery (item 11506) but done either before OR after using an inhaler such as Ventolin. For diagnosing and monitoring asthma and other lung diseases. Create a new MBS item. This service will be billed under its own MBS item. The Committee has suggested a MBS fee of $20.55. This test is done currently but there is no MBS payment for it. The new item and rebate will improve the assessment and monitoring of patients with asthma and other lung diseases. New item – Laboratory based spirometry with Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) FeNO is a test to measure airway inflammation which may help in finding the best treatment. Create a new MBS item for FeNO with spirometry. This test is used for patients with more complex lung disease who are under the care of a specialist. It is laboratory based. FeNO is not useful if it is performed alone. This will provided a separate MBS fee for FeNO with spirometry for patients who have airway inflammation as a cause of their symptoms. New item Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing A relatively non-invasive way to assess how the heart and lungs work at the same time and during exercise. Introduce a new item with a higher MBS fee than for MBS 11503. This test is currently billed under two existing items. It would now be billed under one item and be available for patients: with breathlessness but standard tests do not result in a diagnosis; or who are having major surgery and are at high risk of a complication due to their lung or heart disease. An MBS fee that is equivalent to that for item 11503 plus item 1172 is recommended for the new item as these are the items doctors are currently using. At present, when doctors perform this test they bill two items (11503 and 1172). The new item, with fee equivalent to item 11503 plus item 1172, will mean that doctors will only need to bill one item. The test will target patients with specific symptoms who might benefit the most from the test