Extraction of leads specialist recognition for Medicare 012-42020070

The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) recommended that this procedure be restricted to cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons who:

• have undergone specialist training in the procedure
• participate in an audit program administered by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)

The Lead Extraction Advisory Committee of the CSANZ assesses eligibility for the recognition of training in this procedure and advises Services Australia via email of eligible specialists.

The specialist's Medicare provider number details are updated to show eligibility and the effective start date specified by the Committee.

Services Australia notifies the medical practitioner to advise that the Committee notice has been received and their provider number details have been updated to record eligibility and the effective date.

Eligibility enables payment of Medicare benefits for the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item for the extraction of pacing leads. Further information about the item and rules can be found in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. See the Resources page for a link to MBS Online.

Payment of Medicare benefits is also subject to the medical practitioner being registered with the Medical Board of Australia and satisfying any other legislative provisions that may apply at the date of service.

See also: Provider registrations in PDS

Assessing eligibility for recognition of training

Enquiries about assessing eligibility for the recognition of training in intravascular extraction of chronically implanted permanent transvenous pacing leads should be directed to the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). See the Resources page for a link to the CSANZ website.

Recording recognition of training

Enquiries about recording the recognition of training in intravascular extraction of chronically implanted permanent transvenous pacing leads should be directed to Medicare Provider Registration Support.