Plastic surgeons are seeking new Medicare items for gender-affirming interventions for transgender adults, including masculinising chest surgery for those assigned female at birth.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has lodged an application to the Medical Services Advisory Council (MSAC) to expand coverage specifically for adults diagnosed with gender incongruence who are planning gender transition.

This includes amending existing MBS items for health assessments and multidisciplinary care plans to support care before and after gender-affirming surgery.

While the final MBS fees were still being worked out, the group listed a $1335.70 fee calculated for chest masculisation surgery “for illustrative purposes only”.