Fed Govt rejects recommendation to reverse ECG rebate cut for GPs
The changes have been condemned in an independent review
The Federal Government has refused to reverse the Medicare rebate cut for ECGs in general practice, saying it wants to conduct another review into the decision’s impact.
It comes after an independent inquiry commissioned by Minister for Health Greg Hunt recommended revamping the MBS item for “tracing and reporting” of ECGs, which GPs were banned from claiming back in August 2020.
With GPs restricted to a new ‘trace-only’ item, the result was an effective cut to rebates for patients attending their GP for an ECG from $27.45 to $16.15.
Finally published online last week, the inquiry’s report found the cuts resulted in an immediate 9% reduction in Medicare claims for ECGs when compared with the previous 12 months.
