Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 93285

Video attendance by an eligible dietitian to provide a dietetics health service, as a group service for the management of type 2 diabetes if:

(a) the person has been assessed as suitable for a type 2 diabetes group service under assessment items 81100, 81110, 81120, 93284 or 93286; and

(b) the service is provided to a person who is part of a group of between 2 and 12 patients; and

(c) the service is of at least 60 minutes duration; and

(d) after the last service in the group services program provided to the person under this item or items 81105, 81115 or 81125, the eligible dietitian prepares, or contributes to, a written report to be provided to the referring medical practitioner; and

(e) an attendance record for the group is maintained by the eligible dietitian;

to a maximum of 8 group services in a calendar year (including services to which this item or items 81105, 81115 and 81125 apply)

Fee: $23.20 Benefit: 85% = $19.75

(See para MN.9.2 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Extended Medicare Safety Net Cap: $69.60

• Previous - Item 93284
• Next - Item 93286

Publication date: 1 November 2025

SUMMARY

This note sets out the requirements for group diabetes education, dietetics and exercise physiology allied health services for patients with type 2 diabetes to support the management of their condition. These services are part of the MBS framework for patients with a chronic condition (see AN.15.3).

Patients are eligible for group allied health services if they have type 2 diabetes and have been assessed as suitable for group health services by a credentialled diabetes educator, accredited practising dietitian or an accredited exercise physiologist (see MN.9.1). Assessments are available to patients with a GP chronic condition management plan (see AN.15.3) and residents of a residential aged care facility with a multidisciplinary care plan (see AN.15.8). Until 1 July 2027 they are also available to patients with a GP management plan that was put in place prior to 1 July 2025 (see AN.15.5).

Patients can access up to 8 group allied health services per calendar year.

On 1 July 2025 GP management plans and team care arrangements were replaced with new GP chronic condition management plan items (see AN.15.3). New requirements for referrals to eligible health services written on or after 1 July 2025 also came into effect (see AN.15.6).

USE OF THE ITEMS

Group allied health services are available for diabetes education, dietetics and exercise physiology for the management of type 2 diabetes.

The requirements of the items for group allied health services are set out in the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services - Allied Health and other Primary Health Care Services) Determination 2024 (the Health Determination) and the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Determination 2021 (Telehealth Determination).

Is there a minimum length for the assessment?

Yes, the Health and Telehealth Determinations specifies that the group session must last at least 60 minutes.

How many group allied health therapy services can be claimed for a patient?

Patients can access 8 group allied health therapy services per calendar year. This is in addition to any individual allied health services the patient may be eligible for.

It is February. Does my patient need another assessment to continue group therapy services this year?

No. Once a patient has been assessed as suitable for group services, they do not require another assessment to continue. However, in some circumstances their medical practitioner may request another assessment, for example, if there has been a significant change in their condition.

How many patients need to be in the group?

To use the MBS items there must be a minimum of two and maximum of 12 patients in attendance. The diabetes educator, dietician or exercise physiologist providing the service must keep an attendance record for the group.

My patient was assessed as suitable for a group health service by a diabetes educator. Can they only access group diabetes education services?

No. They have been assessed as suitable for group health services relating to the management of type 2 diabetes. They can access any combination of diabetes education, dietetics and exercise physiology group services.

Can one session cover more than one of diabetes education, dietetics and exercise physiology?

A collaborative approach, where diabetes educators, exercise physiologists and dietitians work together to develop group service programs in their local area, is encouraged. However, for more than one MBS group service to be delivered on a day the requirements of both items must be met. 

For example, a credentialled diabetes educator delivers a 60-minute group diabetes education service to the patient and the patient then attends a 60-minute dietitians group health session for an accredited practising dietician later in the day. These two services cannot be delivered in the same 60-minute period.

Am I required to provide information back to the referring medical practitioner?

Yes, if the service is the last group service in the program the diabetes educator, dietitian or exercise physiologist who delivered the service must prepare or contribute to a written report back to the referring medical practitioner to meet the requirements of the item.

ELIGIBLE PATIENTS

Patients are eligible for group health services if they have type 2 diabetes and have been assessed as suitable for group health services under items 81100, 81110, 81120 or 93284 (see MN.9.1).

Patients being managed by the GP or prescribed medical practitioner through a GP chronic condition management plan (see AN.15.3) need to have had their plan put in place or reviewed within the last 18 months to be eligible for services.

Patients with a multidisciplinary care plan must be a resident of an aged care facility to be eligible for these services.

Until 1 July 2027, patients who have a GP management plan that was put in place before 1 July 2025 can continue to access these services under that plan.

ELIGIBLE PRACTITIONERS

These services can be provided by credentialled diabetes educators, accredited practising dieticians and accredited exercise physiologists. These allied health practitioners must have a Medicare provider number to provide these services. For further information on the qualification requirements for allied health professionals to provide MBS services (see AN.15.4).

RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

If the service is the last group service in the program the diabetes educator, dietitian or exercise physiologist who delivered the service must prepare or contribute to a written report back to the referring medical practitioner to meet the requirements of the item. 

It is a requirement that, where an item specifies the creation of a document (however described) and a document is created, the document must be retained for a period of 2 years. This includes the report/s back to the referring GP or prescribed medical practitioner that the allied health professional is required to write or contribute to under these items.

Providers are responsible for ensuring services claimed from Medicare using their provider number meet all legislative requirements and they may be required to submit evidence for compliance checks related to Medicare claims. Practitioners should ensure they keep adequate and contemporaneous records. For information on what constitutes adequate and contemporaneous records (see GN.15.39).

RELEVANT LEGISLATION

Details about the legislative requirements of the MBS item can be found on the Federal Register of Legislation at www.legislation.gov.au. These items are set out in:

• Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Allied Health and other Primary Health Care Services) Determination 2024 – items 81105, 81115, 81125
• Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Determination 2021 – item 93285

Related Items: 81100 81110 81120 93284 93285 93286