Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note AN.7.3

Last reviewed: 1 November 2023

The conditions to be met before services covered by items 214-220 attract benefits are:‑

(i)     the patient must be in imminent danger of death;

(ii)    if the personal attendance is not continuous, the occasion on which the service is provided is taken to be the total time of the attendance; and

(iii)   if personal attendance on a single patient is provided by 1 or more prescribed medical practitioners (see note AN.7.1) concurrently, each practitioner may claim an attendance fee.

Note: Medicare benefits are not payable for the issue of a death certificate, although an attendance on a patient at which it is determined that life is extinct can be claimed under the appropriate attendance item. The outcome of the attendance may be that a death certificate is issued, however, Medicare benefits are only payable for the attendance component of the service.

Related Items: 214 215 218 219 220

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Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner for a period of not less than one hour but less than 2 hours (other than a service to which another item applies) on a patient in imminent danger of death

Fee: $212.20 Benefit: 75% = $159.15 100% = $212.20

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner for a period of not less than 2 hours but less than 3 hours (other than a service to which another item applies) on a patient in imminent danger of death

Fee: $353.55 Benefit: 75% = $265.20 100% = $353.55

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner for a period of not less than 3 hours but less than 4 hours (other than a service to which another item applies) on a patient in imminent danger of death

Fee: $494.65 Benefit: 75% = $371.00 100% = $494.65

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner for a period of not less than 4 hours but less than 5 hours (other than a service to which another item applies) on a patient in imminent danger of death

Fee: $636.40 Benefit: 75% = $477.30 100% = $636.40

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)

Professional attendance by a prescribed medical practitioner for a period of 5 hours or more (other than a service to which another item applies) on a patient in imminent danger of death

Fee: $707.00 Benefit: 75% = $530.25 100% = $707.00

(See para AN.7.1, AN.7.3 of explanatory notes to this Category)