Concerns Raised Over Limits on Patient End Support Medicare Items
19 Jun 2026
However, there is concern about one key rule. The Medicare Benefits Schedule states that PES items can only be used if the specialist or consultant physician is a private provider and has already billed a related MBS video consultation.
This means patients who see public hospital specialists are not eligible for PES support, which has raised concerns among health groups.
The PES items were supported by organisations such as the RACGP, Virtual Specialist Consults in Victoria, and the West Australian Virtual Immunology service. They were designed to improve coordination between GPs and specialists and reduce gaps in patient care.
According to the MBS, PES items allow GPs or nurse practitioners to provide face-to-face support during a specialist video consultation. This may include physical checks, helping patients understand advice, working with the specialist, or supporting care handover.
These items also provide a higher Medicare rebate compared with standard time-based consultations. The system relies on real-time sharing of information between clinicians to support better decision-making.
To claim the rebate in primary care, the specialist must first bill the equivalent MBS item. GPs are also advised to confirm this before making their claim. If the specialist does not bill a video consultation, PES items cannot be used, although other consultation items may apply.
The MBS Review Advisory Committee has previously supported the return of PES items. However, it also noted a concern that the system only includes private specialists. It suggested this may disadvantage patients who rely on public hospital services, including First Nations patients and those unable to afford private care.
There is ongoing discussion about how federal and state health systems interact in this area. Experts say removing the “private specialist” restriction, reducing administrative steps for GPs, and allowing use in public hospital clinics could improve the system.
Some groups argue that current limits may disadvantage patients who already face barriers to healthcare access.
The PES model is seen as an opportunity to improve coordinated care, strengthen community-based treatment, and support more efficient use of healthcare resources.
Concerns Raised Over Limits on Patient End Support Medicare Items
Source: Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), Australia; MBS Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) Telehealth Post-Implementation Review Report