Medicare items: Make ‘after hours’ start at 6pm, says AMA

The AMA has called out a Medicare “anomaly” that means ‘after-hours’ rebates kick in earlier for home visits than for consultations at a practice.
Under MBS rules, GPs can claim after-hours rebates for home visits (worth $77.30 for a standard consult) from 6pm on weekdays but can only claim after-hours rebates for consults at the surgery (worth $50.55) after 8pm.
“This creates an anomaly and unfair situation where, for example, a deputising service can provide an after-hours consultation at a higher fee from 6pm on a Monday to Friday night but a GP cannot unless they leave their consulting rooms,” the AMA says.
“This discourages practices from opening extended hours.”