Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note AN.0.32

Items 348 and 350 refer to investigative interviews of a patient's relatives or close associates to determine whether the particular problem with which the patient presented was focused in the patient or in the interaction between the patient and the person being interviewed. These items do not cover counselling of family or friends of the patient. The term "in the course of initial diagnostic evaluation of the patient" should normally be interpreted as extending for up to one month from the date of the initial consultation. There is no strict limit to the number of interviews or persons interviewed in that period. These items should not be used for interviews concerned with the continuing management of the patient. 

Item 352 refers to investigative interviews of a patient's relatives or close associates to focus on a particular clinically relevant problem arising in the continuing management of the patient. This item does not cover counselling of family or friends of the patient. The payment of Medicare benefits under this item is limited to four in any twelve month period. 

Benefits are payable for Item 348, 350 or 352 and for a consultation with a patient (items 300 - 328) on the same day provided that separate attendances are involved. 

For Medicare benefit purposes, charges relating to services covered by items 348, 350 and 352 should be raised against the patient rather than against the person interviewed.

Related Items: 348 350 352

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Professional attendance by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician's specialty of psychiatry, following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner, involving an interview of a person other than the patient of not less than 20 minutes, but less than 45 minutes, in duration, in the course of initial diagnostic evaluation of a patient

Fee: $140.90 Benefit: 75% = $105.70 85% = $119.80

(See para AN.0.5, AN.0.32, AN.40.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician's specialty of psychiatry, following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner, involving an interview of a person other than the patient of not less than 45 minutes in duration, in the course of initial diagnostic evaluation of a patient

Fee: $194.50 Benefit: 75% = $145.90 85% = $165.35

(See para AN.0.5, AN.0.32, AN.40.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician's specialty of psychiatry, following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner, involving an interview of a person other than the patient of not less than 20 minutes in duration, in the course of continuing management of a patient-if that attendance and another attendance to which this item applies have not exceeded 4 in a calendar year for the patient

Fee: $140.90 Benefit: 75% = $105.70 85% = $119.80

(See para AN.0.5, AN.0.32, AN.40.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)