GPs can now claim Medicare for longer phone consults to assess patients’ eligibility for COVID-19 antiviral treatment after health officials revealed details of the new $76.95 item. 

The Department of Health and Aged Care finalised the item’s descriptor (see box below) and made it available for GPs to claim on Tuesday.  

GPs who eventually conclude that the patient is ineligible for antiviral treatment will still be able to claim the new item, as long as the patient has a positive PCR or RAT result. 

An additional rule is that patients must report their RAT result to state health authorities.