Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note MN.12.2

Publication date: 1 July 2026

SUMMARY

This note outlines the requirements for item 10989 for the provision of wound management services provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of, and under the supervision of, a medical practitioner.

This service may be delivered to a patient once per visit.

The medical practitioner who supervises and claims the item is not required to assess the patient’s wound each time the wound management service is delivered, unless clinically indicated.

USE OF THE ITEMS

Note: The requirements in this note must be met in addition to the requirements for ‘on behalf of’ items contained in MN.12.6.

This item is used for the treatment of a patient’s wound(s) provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, on behalf of, and under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

To use this item, the Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) state that:

• the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander health practitioner must be appropriately qualified and trained to treat wounds
• a medical practitioner under whose supervision the health practitioner provides the treatment has conducted an initial assessment of the person
• the health practitioner has been instructed by the medical practitioner about the treatment of the wound, and
• the medical practitioner retains responsibility for the health, safety and clinical outcomes of the person.

Does a medical practitioner have to assess the patient’s wound on the same day each time a wound management service is delivered by the health practitioner?

No. The medical practitioner who supervises the health practitioner for the item must conduct an initial assessment of the patient’s wound and provide instructions to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner about how the wound is to be managed and treated. This can occur on the same day or a different day as the first service under MBS item 10989.

After this initial assessment, the medical practitioner is not required to assess the patient’s wound each time the wound management service is delivered, unless clinically indicated.

If the condition of the wound changes and, in the health practitioner’s clinical judgement, it is relevant for the patient to be re assessed, the medical practitioner may assess the patient again and provide updated instructions for the ongoing management of the wound.

The patient is being bulk billed for this service. Can wound care consumables used during this service be separately billed?

No. Where a wound management service is bulk billed, the Medicare benefit is taken to be the full payment for the service. Patients must not be charged separately for consumables, such as dressings or bandages used to perform the service. Further information about Medicare billing procedures can be found at GN.7.17.

The Australian Government’s Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) covers the cost of wound consumable products for people who have diabetes and a chronic wound, and who are aged 65 years and over, or aged 50 years and over for First Nations people. Information on this scheme is available at https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/cwcs.

Can I co-claim this item with an attendance item, or with another item delivered by a health provider on behalf of a medical practitioner?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Item 10989 may be claimed on the same day as an different service provided on behalf of a medical practitioner (items 10988, 10987, 10997 and 10983) where both items are distinctly and clinically relevant services consistent with the patient’s health needs, there is no duplication of services and the requirements of each item (including time requirements) are fully and independently met.

Where the medical practitioner provides a professional attendance to the patient (in addition to the wound service provided by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner), the medical practitioner may also claim for the professional attendance they provide to the patient.

ELIGIBLE PATIENTS

This item is available for Medicare-eligible patients who are not an admitted patient of a hospital, who have received an initial assessment by a medical practitioner and require wound management services.

ELIGIBLE PRACTITIONERS

This item is a medical practitioner item. The service is delivered by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of, and under the supervision of, a medical practitioner. The medical practitioner must claim the MBS item and retain responsibility for the health, safety and clinical outcomes for the patient.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner delivering the service on behalf of the medical practitioner must be appropriately qualified and trained to deliver wound management services.

The Health Insurance Act 1973 requires the person rendering the service to be in Australia. As the medical practitioner’s Medicare provider number is used to claim the service, they are considered to be the person who renders the service. 

Information on supervision arrangements can be found in MN.12.6 (overarching note).

RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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. This item is set out in the Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2021.

Related Items: 10989

• Previous - Note MN.12.1
• Next - Note MN.12.3

Treatment of a person's wound (other than normal aftercare) provided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner if:

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

(b)    the person is not an admitted patient of a hospital.

Fee: $14.35 Benefit: 100% = $14.35

(See para MN.12.2, MN.12.6 of explanatory notes to this Category)