$200 MBS item for GP iron infusions a ‘no-brainer’: RACGP
The college says its proposed iron infusion item should be eligible for bulk-billing incentives.
Rebates for iron infusions in general practice would save taxpayers up to $123 million each year by keeping patients out of hospital, the RACGP says.
In a submission to the MBS Continuous Review, the college called on the Federal Government to fund a new Medicare item worth $200 for GP clinics to administer IV iron therapy.
“The RACGP intends this item to be co-claimable with bulk-billing incentives and standard items where additional clinically relevant services are provided and documented,” it states.
A cost breakdown of the proposed rebate said that $90 would subsidise the time taken by a GP to calculate the dose, discuss the procedure and document patient consent, while $50 would cover a nurse administering the infusion.
