View Associated Notes
Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
42738 - Additional Information
PARACENTESIS OF ANTERIOR CHAMBER OR VITREOUS CAVITY, or both, for the injection of therapeutic substances, or the removal of aqueous or vitreous humours for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, 1 or more of, as an independent procedure.
Fee: $342.65 Benefit: 75% = $257.00 85% = $291.30
(See para TN.8.121 of explanatory notes to this Category)
Associated Notes
Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
TN.8.121
Paracentesis of anterior chamber or vitreous cavity and/or intravitreal injection - (Items 42738 to 42740)
Items 42738 and 42739 provide for paracentesis for the injection of therapeutic substances and/or the removal of aqueous or vitreous, when undertaken as an independent procedure. That is, not in conjunction with other intraocular surgery.
Item 42739 should be claimed for patients requiring the administration of anaesthetic by an anaesthetist for the procedure. The administration of oral sedation is not sufficient justification for the use of item 42739, and item 42738 is applicable in those circumstances. Advice from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists is that independent injections require only topical anaesthesia, with or without subconjunctival anaesthesia, except in specific circumstances as outlined below where the administration of anaesthetic by an anaesthetist may be indicated:
- nystagmus or eye movement disorder;
- cognitive impairment precluding safe intravitreal injection without sedation;
- a patient under the age of 18 years;
- a patient unable to tolerate intravitreal injection under local anaesthetic without sedation; or
- endophthalmitis or other inflammation requiring more extensive anaesthesia (eg peribulbar).
GP anaesthetists are expected to meet the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standard which defines the minimum recommended requirements for all general practitioners providing anaesthesia services.
Practitioners billing item 42739 must keep clinical notes outlining the basis of the requirement for the administration of anaesthetic by an anaesthetist.
Item 42740 provides for intravitreal injection of therapeutic substances and/or the removal of vitreous for diagnostic purposes when performed in conjunction with other intraocular surgery including with a service to which Item 42809 (retinal photocoagulation) applies.
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