Do I need a specific referral to admit the patient privately for every episode requiring admission?
27 September 24No additional context was provided.
read more >No additional context was provided.
read more >If I see patients referred to me in the public clinic, and they are unwell and require admission to hospital at presentation to the clinic as patients with chronic disease sometimes are, do I need a separate referral from the referring GP or other senior doctor to admit them to the private hospital?
read more >There is nothing in the MBS to preclude multiple transfusions (item 13706) being provided on the same calendar day and the item number covers three different types of regularly provided transfusions (blood, platelets, IVIg). There are ample examples in ICU when a patient legitimately requires multiple appropriate transfusion episodes during a 24 hour period and these are due to changing clinical circumstances, not part of a pre-defined transfusion plan (e.g. blood transfusion at 4am with 2 units of packed cells, subsequent transfusion of platelets and another unit of blood at 2 pm and another transfusion with a unit of blood at 10pm – for ongoing surgical bleeding). In my interpretation these would account for three distinct, time separated transfusion episodes and item 13706 should be claimed three times. However, Medicare seems to reject claims with more than two 13706 items on it. The error message is usually that the service has already been paid or maximum number reached. This is in spite of times and NDS override documented on the submission. Also, how does one reconcile a massive transfusion episode in billing (sometimes dozens of units of blood and platelets are given) – clearly this is a very different level of clinical workload and involvement compared to a single unit transfusion.
read more >A haematologist said that he and some colleagues were considering personally performing bone marrow aspirates and trephines (items 30084 and 30087) and explained that the MBS rebates for these procedures barely covered the cost of consumables, let alone the time taken, so they would have to charge gaps. However, he had heard that they could also claim an item 110 or 116 consultation item number at the same time as every aspirate procedure, because they review the patient’s appropriateness for the procedure, and obtain their consent.
read more >1 Year subscription includes unlimited access to all answers and ability to ask questions.
How does MBS Answers work?
Save $9 by subscribing to the BEGINNER PACK
and get an additional $49 worth of learning.
Pay only $50 more by subscribing to the INTERMEDIATE PACK
and receive up to $248 of additional benefits.
Try the EXPERT PACK for an extra $110 with up to $686 of benefits.
Check out our subscription packages No, ThanksSubscribe to gain access to all answers, new answers added weekly.
offer expires 4 November 2024
See the complete answers to four popular questions.If you like what you see, you can join our yearly subscription for full access. Free trial will expire after 7 days.