This instrument is the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Amendment (In-Hospital Telehealth and Phone Services) Determination 2021.

(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provisions	Commencement	Date/Details
1. The whole of this instrument	15 September 2021

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

4 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1— Amendments

Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – COVID-19 Telehealth and Telephone Attendances) Determination 2020

Subsection 5(1)

Insert:

admitting dental practitioner means the dental practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment at the time the patient is admitted to hospital.

admitting medical practitioner means the medical practitioner responsible for the patient’s treatment at the time the patient is admitted to hospital.

2. After subsection 8(1)

Insert:

(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to an item in Schedule 5 of this Determination.

3. After Schedule 4

Insert:

Schedule 5 – In-hospital services

Division 5.1 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 in-hospital specialist, consultant physician and consultant psychiatrist telehealth and phone services

5.1.1 Application of COVID-19 in-hospital specialist, consultant physician and consultant psychiatrist telehealth and phone services – general

(1) Clause 1.2.2 of the general medical services table shall have effect as if all items in Division 5.1 of this Determination were specified in the clause.

(2) An item in Division 5.1 of this Determination only applies to a service if:

(a) the patient to whom the service is provided is admitted to hospital; and

(b) the medical practitioner who performs the service is:

(i) located in an area determined by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer to be a COVID-19 hotspot; or

(ii) in COVID-19 isolation because of a State or Territory public health order; or

(iii) in COVID-19 quarantine because of a State or Territory public health order.

(3) An item in Division 5.1 of this Determination only applies to a service if the service is performed by the admitting medical practitioner for the patient.

5.1.2 Application of COVID-19 in-hospital public health physician telehealth and phone services

(1) Clause 2.13.1 of the general medical services table shall have effect as if items 92517 to 92520 and 92525 to 92528 were specified in the clause.

Group A40 – COVID-19 services
Subgroup 4 – COVID‑19 – specialist attendances telehealth services
Item	Description				Fee ($)
91846	Telehealth attendance for a person by a specialist in the practice of the specialist’s specialty if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance was other than a second or subsequent attendance as part of a single course of treatment				90.35
91847	Telehealth attendance for a person by a specialist in the practice of the specialist’s specialty if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is after the first attendance as part of a single course of treatment				45.40
Subgroup 5 – COVID‑19 – consultant physician telehealth services
92471		Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance was other than a second or subsequent attendance as part of a single course of treatment				159.35
92472			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is not a minor attendance after the first as part of a single course of treatment			79.75
92473			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is a minor attendance after the first as part of a single course of treatment			45.40
Subgroup 6 – COVID‑19 – consultant psychiatrist telehealth services
92461			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was not more than 15 minutes duration			45.75
92462			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 15 minutes, but not more than 30 minutes in duration			91.30
92463			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 30 minutes, but not more than 45 minutes in duration			140.55
92464			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 45 minutes, but not more than 75 minutes in duration			194.00
92465			Telehealth attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 75 minutes in duration			225.10
92466			Telehealth attendance of more than 45 minutes in duration by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s speciality of psychiatry following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner: (a) if the patient: (i) is a new patient for this consultant physician; or (ii) has not received an attendance from this consultant physician in the preceding 24 months; and (b) the patient has not received an attendance under this item, or item 91827 to 91831, 91837 to 91841, 92455 to 92457, 92495 to 92497 or 92477, or item 296, 297, 299, 300 to 346, 353 to 358 or 361 to 370 of the general medical services table, in the preceding 24 months			274.95
Subgroup 7 – COVID‑19 – specialist attendances phone services
91848			Phone attendance for a person by a specialist in the practice of the specialist’s specialty if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance was other than a second or subsequent attendance as part of a single course of treatment			90.35
91849			Phone attendance for a person by a specialist in the practice of the specialist’s specialty if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is after the first attendance as part of a single course of treatment			45.40
Subgroup 8 – COVID‑19 – consultant physician phone services
92425			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance was other than a second or subsequent attendance as part of a single course of treatment			159.35
92426			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is not a minor attendance after the first as part of a single course of treatment			79.75
92427			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty (other than psychiatry) if: (a) the attendance follows referral of the patient to the specialist; and (b) the attendance was of more than 5 minutes in duration; where the attendance is a minor attendance after the first as part of a single course of treatment			45.40
Subgroup 9 – COVID‑19 – consultant psychiatrist phone services
92501			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was not more than 15 minutes duration			45.75
92502			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner and (b) the attendance was at least 15 minutes, but not more than 30 minutes in duration			91.30
92503			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 30 minutes, but not more than 45 minutes in duration			140.55
92504			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 45 minutes, but not more than 75 minutes in duration			194.00
92505			Phone attendance for a person by a consultant psychiatrist; if: (a) the attendance follows a referral of the patient to the consultant psychiatrist by a referring practitioner; and (b) the attendance was at least 75 minutes in duration			225.10
92506			Phone attendance of more than 45 minutes in duration by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s speciality of psychiatry following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner: (a) if the patient: (i) is a new patient for this consultant physician; or (ii) has not received an attendance from this consultant physician in the preceding 24 months; and (b) the patient has not received an attendance under this item, item 91827 to 91831, 91837 to 91841, 92455 to 92457, 92495 to 92497 or 92437, or item 296, 297, 299, 300 to 346, 353 to 358, or 361 to 370 of the general medical services table, in the preceding 24 months			274.95
Subgroup 33— Public health physician – Telehealth Services
92517		Telehealth attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine—attendance for an obvious problem characterised by the straightforward nature of the task that requires a short patient history and, if required, limited management				20.65
92518		Telehealth attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting less than 20 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking a patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				45.15
92519		Telehealth attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting at least 20 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking a detailed patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				87.35
92520		Telehealth attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting at least 40 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking an extensive patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				128.60
Subgroup 34— Public health physician – Phone Services
92525		Phone attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine—attendance for an obvious problem characterised by the straightforward nature of the task that requires a short patient history and, if required, limited management				20.65
92526		Phone attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting less than 20 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking a patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				45.15
92527		Phone attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting at least 20 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking a detailed patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				87.35
92528		Phone attendance by a public health physician in the practice of the public health physician’s specialty of public health medicine, lasting at least 40 minutes and including any of the following that are clinically relevant: (a) taking an extensive patient history; (b) arranging any necessary investigation; (c) implementing a management plan; (d) providing appropriate preventive health care; for one or more health‑related issues, with appropriate documentation				128.60
Subgroup 35— Neurosurgery attendances – Telehealth Services
92615		Telehealth attendance by a specialist in the practice of neurosurgery following referral of the patient to the specialist (other than a second or subsequent attendance in a single course of treatment)				136.85
92616		Telehealth attendance by a specialist in the practice of neurosurgery following referral of the patient to the specialist—a minor attendance after the first in a single course of treatment				45.40
Subgroup 36—Neurosurgery attendances – Phone Services
92625		Phone attendance by a specialist in the practice of neurosurgery following referral of the patient to the specialist (other than a second or subsequent attendance in a single course of treatment)				136.85
92626		Phone attendance by a specialist in the practice of neurosurgery following referral of the patient to the specialist—a minor attendance after the first in a single course of treatment				45.40
Subgroup 37 —Specialist, anaesthesia telehealth services
92702				Telehealth attendance by a medical practitioner in the practice of anaesthesia for a consultation on a patient undergoing advanced surgery or who has complex medical problems, involving a selective history and the formulation of a written patient management plan documented in the patient notes, and lasting more than 15 minutes (other than a service associated with a service to which any of items 2801 to 3000 of the general medical services table apply)			90.35
Subgroup 38 —Specialist, anaesthesia phone services
92713				Phone attendance by a medical practitioner in the practice of anaesthesia for a consultation on a patient undergoing advanced surgery or who has complex medical problems, involving a selective history and the formulation of a written patient management plan documented in the patient notes, and lasting more than 15 minutes (other than a service associated with a service to which any of items 2801 to 3000 of the general medical services table apply)			90.35

Division 5.2 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 in-hospital dental practitioner telehealth and phone services

5.2.1 – Application of dental practitioner services

(1) This clause applies to items 54006, 54007, 54011 and 54012.

(2) An item mentioned in subclause (1) only applies to a service provided in the course of dental practice by a dental practitioner approved by the Minister before
1 November 2004 for the definition of professional service in subsection 3(1) of the Act.

(3) An item mentioned in subsection (1) only applies to a service if:

(a) the patient to whom the service is provided is admitted to hospital; and

(b) the dental practitioner who performs the service is:

located in an area determined by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer to be a COVID-19 hotspot; or
in COVID-19 isolation because of a State or Territory public health order; or
in COVID-19 quarantine because of a State or Territory public health order.

(4) An item mention in subclause (1) only applies to a service if the service is performed by the admitting dental practitioner for the patient.

	Group O1—Consultations
	Subgroup 1—dental practitioner telehealth services
	Item	Description			Fee ($)
	54006	Telehealth attendance (other than a second or subsequent attendance in a single course of treatment) by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, if the patient is referred to the approved dental practitioner			89.00
	54007	Telehealth attendance by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, each attendance after the first in a single course of treatment, if the patient is referred to the approved dental practitioner			44.75
	Subgroup 2—dental practitioner phone services
54011			Phone attendance (other than a second or subsequent attendance in a single course of treatment) by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, if the patient is referred to the approved dental practitioner	89.00
54012			Phone attendance by an approved dental practitioner in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery, each attendance after the first in a single course of treatment, if the patient is referred to the approved dental practitioner	44.75