The Federal Government has unveiled a new organisation to review existing MBS items, declaring it will ensure the schedule remains aligned with modern medical practice. 

Called the MBS Review Advisory Committee, the government says the body will scrutinise the schedule on an “ongoing basis” and provide advice to the government on how items can be improved and updated.

It will be chaired by gastroenterologist Conjoint Professor Anne Duggan, currently chief medical officer for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

The government is yet to spell out how frequent the reviews will be or exactly what they will entail but says the new body will complement the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), which assesses applications for the creation of new MBS items.