Enhanced Primary Care Medical Benefits Schedule (EPC MBS) item numbers
There are 21 MBS Items which became available in November 1999:
- 700-706 Health Assessments
- 720-728 Care Planning
- 740-773 Case Conferences
Additional Items November 2000 Schedule
Additional items were issued in November 2000. A summary of the changes to the EPC items was released as well as the November 2000 Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Click here to download the summary of the changes.
(19KB)
Click here to download the November 2000 MBS.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule Book can be obtained by contacting AusInfo Shop telephone 132 447.
November 2001 Schedule - Tracked Changes
There are changes to the explanatory notes for the EPC items for the November 2001 schedule. The only change to the items is to Item 722 where the item missed the reference to it being a discharge item in the current schedule. Changes to explanatory notes have also been made and have been sent as an edited version for you to be able to identify the changes.
The issue of carer involvement in the EPC MBS items was raised during the post-implementation review of the items in July 2000. The specific issue was whether a patient's informal or family carer should be able to count as one of the minimum three members of a multidisciplinary care planning or case conferencing team. There were different views on this matter and the Department undertook to consult with carer representatives.
A working group was established earlier this year with representatives of the Carers Association and the Department's Aged and Community Care, Health Services and Health Access and Financing Divisions. Following consideration by the working group and consultation with representatives of GP groups, amendments have been made to the EPC MBS explanatory notes to clarify the involvement of carers with the EPC items (see What's New, showing amendments in track changes mode).
The explanatory notes now describe informal or family carers (in similar terms to the Carer Information Kit) and give guidance on how they may be involved in the EPC MBS items. The working group has also discussed the content of guidance for GPs in providing EPC services for patients with carers. Such guidance could eg:
- Highlight the value of carer involvement in multidisciplinary care teams;
- Outline the benefits to GPs of including carers in the management of patients with chronic conditions and multidisciplinary care needs;
- Provide GPs with information on how to involve carers in the EPC items; and
- Include case studies/scenarios.
Click here to download the tracked changes to the MBS.
EPC Care Planning - Membership of a Multidisciplinary Team
Click here to download a summary.
Tracked Changes to the EPC MBS May Supplement
Click here to download the changes.
Interaction between EPC, DMMR and PIP Incentive Items - Questions and Answers
Click here to download the questions and answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The EPC MBS Items have generated many questions. GPDV will have an ongoing roll in providing a Helpdesk to divisions to seek answers to questions about the items. GPDV is advocating through ADGP and the EPC task force for the Commonwealth Medicare Branch to regularly update the question and answers website.
Visit the Commonwealth website for Question and Answers. (Please note this site is not regularly updated)
Also, a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions collated by QLD SBO which may be more current.
GPDV has collated a series of questions and answers:
Click here to download a list of Frequently Asked Questions.