Medicare crackdown on vitamin B12 tests disrespects doctors’ judgement: AMA
The moves were flagged in this year's federal budget.
The AMA has slammed a Federal Government plan to restrict vitamin B12 and urine examination tests under Medicare next year.
Foreshadowed in the last budget, the government wants MBS item 66839 for quantification of B12 markers such as holotranscobalamin or methylmalonic acid (schedule fee $42.95) limited to one claim per patient per year.
Health officials said it would align with the limit on serum B12 tests (schedule fee $23.60) and deter claiming for questionable indications like lethargy.
However, AMA president Dr Danielle McMullen has warned the government — which planned to introduce the changes on 1 July 2025 — to reconsider.
