A “massive” reform plan to introduce time-tiered MBS consult items for specialists is a threat to patient care and the future of funding of private practice, the AMA is warning.

The overhaul has been drawn up in a 190-page report by the specialist and consultant physician clinical committee of the MBS Review Taskforce.

If adopted, it would signal the end of the the current specialist attendance items — including the initial attendance item —- with a new set introduced based on GP-style time tiers (see below for details).

There are no details on proposed rebates for any of the items because issues of funding lie outside the task force’s terms of reference.