Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note TN.10.10

Perfusion services covered by items 22055-22075 have been included in the RVG format.

As with anaesthesia, where whole body perfusion is performed, the Schedule fee is determined on the base units allocated to the service (item 22060), the total time for the perfusion, and modifying units, as appropriate, i.e.

(a) the basic units allocated to whole body perfusion under item 22060:

(b) plus, the time unit allocation reflecting the total time of the perfusion (an item in the range 23010 - 24136), for example:

plus, where appropriate

(c) modifying units recognising certain added complexities in perfusion (an item/s in the range 25000 - 25020), for example:

The time component for item 22060 is defined as beginning with the commencement of anaesthesia and finishing with the closure of the chest.

Item 22065 may only be used in association with item 22060.

Medicare benefits are not payable for perfusion unless the perfusion is performed by a medical practitioner other than the medical practitioner who renders the associated service in Group T8 or the medical practitioner who administers the anaesthesia listed in the RVG in Group T10.

The medical practitioner providing the service must comply with the training requirements in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Guidelines for Major Extracorporeal Perfusion (PS27). 

Benefits are not payable if another person primarily and/or continuously operates the Heart Lung Machine.

Related Items: 22055 22060 22065 22075

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PERFUSION OF LIMB OR ORGAN using heart-lung machine or equivalent, not being a service associated with anaesthesia to which an item in Subgroup 21 applies

(12 basic units)

Fee: $270.60 Benefit: 75% = $202.95 85% = $230.05

(See para TN.10.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)

WHOLE BODY PERFUSION, CARDIAC BYPASS, where the heart-lung machine or equivalent is continuously operated by a medical perfusionist, other than a service associated with anaesthesia to which an item in Subgroup 21 applies

(Anaes.)

(30 basic units)

Fee: $676.50 Benefit: 75% = $507.40 85% = $575.05

(See para TN.10.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)

INDUCED CONTROLLED HYPOTHERMIA total body, being a service to which item 22060 applies, not being a service associated with anaesthesia to which an item in Subgroup 21 applies

(5 basic units)

Fee: $112.75 Benefit: 75% = $84.60 85% = $95.85

(See para TN.10.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)

DEEP HYPOTHERMIC CIRCULATORY ARREST, with core temperature less than 22°c, including management of retrograde cerebral perfusion if performed, not being a service associated with anaesthesia to which an item in Subgroup 21 applies

(15 basic units)

Fee: $338.25 Benefit: 75% = $253.70 85% = $287.55

(See para TN.10.10 of explanatory notes to this Category)