Better health and ageing for all Australians

Medicare Benefits

The Australian Government pays Medicare Benefits to assist consumers with the costs of medical, optometrical and, in some cases, dental surgical services, provided on a private basis.

In this section:

Where Medicare benefits fit | MBS Online | Medicare Offices | Statistics | Changing MBS items | Legislation


Where do Medicare benefits fit?

For a description of how Medicare benefits fit into Medicare and the Australian Health Care System, see "Overview of the Australian healthcare system"

Medicare Offices - Administration of Medicare benefits by the Medicare Australia

Medicare benefits claims and payments are processed by Medicare Australia, now part of the portfolio of the Minister for Human Services .

MBS Online

MBS Online contains the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), A listing of the Medicare services subsidised by the Australian government. The Schedule is part of the wider Medicare Benefits Scheme managed by the Department of Health and Ageing and administered by Medicare Australia. MBS Online contains the latest MBS information and is updated as changes to the MBS occur. This site provides:
  • search the MBS functionality to allow both items and explanatiory notes to be easily accessed;
  • downloadable PDF versions of the MBS;
  • an email subscription to allow users to be notified of changes to the MBS; and
  • a create publication functionality whereby a dynamic PDF can be created based on preferred items.

Medicare Benefits Statistics

Statistics on the numbers and value of Medicare benefits paid are at Medicare Benefits Statistics

    How changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule are decided

    The need for changes to the way services currently included the Schedule are subsidised are considered by the Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee. Proposals for new treatments to be included in the Schedule are considered by the Medical Services Advisory Committee.

    Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee

    The Medicare Benefits Consultative Committee (MBCC) is an informal consultative forum established by agreement between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) to facilitate discussion on reviews of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). (Note that reviews of the Diagnostic Imaging and Pathology Services are conducted under other arrangements.) Representation is drawn from the Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Australia, the AMA and relevant craft groups of the medical profession.

    The major function of the consultative process is to review particular services or groups of services within the Schedule, including consideration of new items and appropriate fee levels, to ensure that the Schedule reflects and encourages appropriate clinical practice

    Medical Services Advisory Committee

    The Medical Services Advisory Committee advises the Minister for Health and Ageing on the strength of evidence on new medical technologies and procedures in terms of their safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness, and under what circumstances funding by the Medicare benefits should be supported.Top of page

    Legislation covering Medicare benefits

    Medicare benefits are provided for by the Health Insurance Act 1973 which should be read in conjunction with the National Health Act 1953. These Acts and the Regulations made under them are available at the ComLaw web site