Govt says it will reconsider ECG cuts in general practice
But the review will take place in February next year
The Federal Government has promised to review its cuts to Medicare rebates for ECGs — but not for another six months.
Introduced on 1 August, the item revamp for GPs to review trace results has sparked an angry backlash from across the specialty.
It sees GPs banned from billing MBS item 11700 for a 12-lead electrocardiogram, with GPs restricted to a new item with a $16.15 rebate for carrying out an ECG that “does not need to be fully interpreted or reported on”.
It has now emerged that Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt has requested the “clinical impact” of the changes is reviewed by the health department in February.
