Hundreds of GPs have received ‘please explain’ letters after claiming practice nurse services and GP care plan items on Medicare on the same day.

The nudge letter, sent last week, instructs GPs to justify their MBS claims to the Department of Health and Aged Care by 17 March.

This is despite acknowledging that claiming MBS items 721 or 723 on the same day as item 10997 for practice nurse chronic disease care is not specifically banned by Medicare.

The letter states: “While claiming these items on the same day is not restricted, the department considers that item 10997 would not routinely be claimed at the same time as a chronic disease management item.”