The federal government used yesterday's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook to confirm funding for a number of new Medicare-funded services.
The newly-funded services will see $62.4 million invested over four years from 1 May 2020 for new and amended Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Veterans' Benefits items based on recommendations from the Medical Services Advisory Committee.
The new items include new diagnostic genetic tests for familial hypercholesterolemia, a range of childhood syndromes, hereditary colorectal and endometrial cancers, and somatic markers for diagnostic and classification of tumours.
There is also a new item for the insertion of micro-bypass glaucoma surgery devices for patients with open-angle glaucoma for whom conservative treatment has failed or is contraindicated.
Other new items will be created for magnetic resonance imaging guided prostate biopsy as well as increased fees for endoscopic visual laser ablation of the prostate and the removal of restrictions for cone beam computed tomography dedicated equipment.