Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note TN.4.1

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Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

TN.4.1

Antenatal Service Provided by a Nurse, Midwife or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner - (Item 16400)

Item 16400 can only be claimed by a medical practitioner (including a vocationally registered or non-vocationally registered GP, a specialist or a consultant physician) where an antenatal service is provided to a patient by a midwife, nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of the medical practitioner at, or from an eligible practice location in a regional, rural or remote area. 

A regional, rural or remote area is classified as a RRMA 3-7 area under the Rural Remote Metropolitan Areas classification system. 

Evidence based national or regional guidelines should be used in the delivery of this antenatal service. 

An eligible practice location is the place associated with the medical practitioner's Medicare provider number from which the service has been provided. If you are unsure if the location is in an eligible area you can call the Department of Human Services on 132 150. 

A midwife means a registered midwife who holds a current practising certificate as a midwife issued by a State or Territory regulatory authority and who is employed by, or whose services are otherwise retained by, the medical practitioner or their practice. 

A nurse means a registered or enrolled nurse who holds a current practising certificate as a nurse issued by a State or Territory regulatory authority and who is employed by, or whose services are otherwise retained by, the medical practitioner or their practice.  The nurse must have appropriate training and skills to provide an antenatal service. 

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner means a person who has been registered as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia and meets the Board's registration standards. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner must be employed or retained by a general practice, or by a health service that has an exemption to claim Medicare benefits under subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973. 

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner may use any of the titles authorised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board: Aboriginal health practitioner; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner; or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner. 

The midwife, nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner must also comply with any relevant legislative or regulatory requirements regarding the provision of the antenatal service. 

The medical practitioner under whose supervision the antenatal service is provided retains responsibility for the health, safety and clinical outcomes of the patient.  The medical practitioner must be satisfied that the midwife, nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is appropriately registered, qualified and trained, and covered by indemnity insurance to undertake antenatal services. 

Supervision at a distance is recognised as an acceptable form of supervision.  This means that the medical practitioner does not have to be physically present at the time the service is provided.  However, the medical practitioner should be able to be contacted if required. 

The medical practitioner is not required to see the patient or to be present while the antenatal service is being provided by the midwife, nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.  It is up to the medical practitioner to decide whether they need to see the patient.  Where a consultation with the medical practitioner has taken place prior to or following the antenatal service, the medical practitioner is entitled to claim for their own professional service, but item 16400 cannot be claimed in these circumstances. 

Item 16400 cannot be claimed in conjunction with another antenatal attendance item for the same patient, on the same day by the same practitioner. 

A bulk billing incentive item (10990, 10991 or 10992) cannot be claimed in conjunction with item 16400.  An incentive payment is incorporated into the schedule fee. 

Item 16400 can only be claimed 10 times per pregnancy. 

Item 16400 cannot be claimed for an admitted patient of a hospital.

 

Related Items: 16400


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Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES

16400

16400 - Additional Information

Item Start Date:
01-Nov-2006
Description Updated:
01-Jan-2024
Schedule Fee Updated:
01-Nov-2023

Antenatal service provided by a practice midwife, nurse or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, applicable 10 times for a pregnancy, if:

(a) the service is provided on behalf of, and under the supervision of, a medical practitioner; and

(b) the service is provided at, or from, a practice location in a regional, rural or remote area; and

(c) the service is not performed in conjunction with another antenatal attendance item in Group T4 for the same patient on the same day by the same practitioner; and

(d) the service is not provided for an admitted patient of a hospital or approved day facility

Fee: $30.00 Benefit: 85% = $25.50

(See para TN.4.1, TN.4.15 of explanatory notes to this Category)


Legend

  • Assist - Addition/Deletion of (Assist.)
  • Amend - Amended Description
  • Anaes - Anaesthetic Values Amended
  • Emsn - EMSN Change
  • Fee - Fee Amended
  • Renum - Item Number Change (renumbered)
  • New - New Item
  • NewMin - New Item (previous Ministerial Determination)
  • Qfe - QFE Change