Replace items 13100 Current MBS funding is for a doctor Change the funding of in-centre The MBS benefit would be based While most providers bill the current reviewing a patient during a dialysis dialysis supervision to better reflect on a of dialysis items less than once a month, some 13103 week’s worth session. the role of the nephrologist in treatment including all the other providers bill for every dialysis New item single item – overseeing treatment and planning care provided by the nephrologist. session (~3 per week). This change claimable weekly for of care for patients on dialysis. The This means that all in-centre would ensure that all patients payment for care of a new item would cover supervision dialysis patients should receive receive the same rebate for their dialysis patient of dialysis treatments occurring the same rebate for their care. dialysis supervision. including all routine through the week including consultations consultations and attendances for Episodes of acute care or weeks The current item numbers only routine assessment of the dialysis which require a high number of describe the care that occurs during treatment and the ongoing specialist consultations could still direct contact with a patient during a planning, care, and monitoring be claimed separately under dialysis session. This does not required between treatments. existing consult items instead of account for the fact that much of the using the weekly dialysis item. activity involved in caring for a dialysis patient does not require or involve direct physician contact during a dialysis session. Doctors are believed to already be providing this care, the new item simply recognises this.
Replace items 13100 13103 New item – single item claimable weekly for payment for care of a dialysis patient including all routine consultations Current MBS funding is for a doctor reviewing a patient during a dialysis session. Change the funding of in-centre dialysis supervision to better reflect the role of the nephrologist in overseeing treatment and planning of care for patients on dialysis. The new item would cover supervision of dialysis treatments occurring through the week including consultations and attendances for routine assessment of the dialysis treatment and the ongoing planning, care, and monitoring required between treatments. The MBS benefit would be based on a week’s worth of dialysis treatment including all the other care provided by the nephrologist. This means that all in-centre dialysis patients should receive the same rebate for their care. Episodes of acute care or weeks which require a high number of specialist consultations could still be claimed separately under existing consult items instead of using the weekly dialysis item. While most providers bill the current items less than once a month, some providers bill for every dialysis session (~3 per week). This change would ensure that all patients receive the same rebate for their dialysis supervision. The current item numbers only describe the care that occurs during direct contact with a patient during a dialysis session. This does not account for the fact that much of the activity involved in caring for a dialysis patient does not require or involve direct physician contact during a dialysis session. Doctors are believed to already be providing this care, the new item simply recognises this.