Government cuts funding for Vitamin B12 tests
From 1 July the Australian Government has restricted rebates for Vitamin B12 testing. As a result, all patients will be sent an invoice after the testing has been completed and reported, which will need to be paid in full. If they meet the Medicare criteria, they will be eligible for a rebate for this test and can claim through Medicare.
The rebate will be dependent on the Medicare assessment against the criteria. Please ensure that appropriate clinical notes are included on the request form.
Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card and DVA Gold card holders will be bulk billed if they meet the criteria.
We have kept out-of-pocket costs as low as possible to ensure patients can still access these important tests.
Medicare inclusion criteria
- Patient is subject to MBS Item criteria being met to receive a Medicare rebate.
- Medicare rebates are limited to once every 11 months.
Further Vitamin B12 testing can be claimed on Medicare for patients presenting with:
- A diet low in Vitamin B12
- A family history of Vitamin B12
- Deficiency or an autoimmune condition
- Clinical conditions with recognised risk of B12 deficiency
- Inconclusive or abnormal results for their initial Vitamin B12 test
- Monitoring of Vitamin B12 treatment
- Previous abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy
- Previous surgery involving the gastrointestinal tract
- Recreational nitrous oxide use
- Use of Vitamin B12-antagonistic medicines
