Can I bill for the time a patient conducts the PreConsult interview?
Understanding Medicare billing rules and alternative revenue options
Quick Answer
Yes — but as a private fee, not through Medicare. PreConsult time cannot be claimed under MBS, but clinics can include it in private gap fees or charge it separately, just like other non-MBS services.
Medicare Billing Rules
Under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Australia) (MBS), only practitioner time spent directly with the patient can be included in billable attendance time.
Not MBS Billable
- Time patient spends completing PreConsult interview
- Practitioner time reviewing interview before appointment
- Practitioner time reviewing interview after appointment
MBS Billable
- Face-to-face consultation time with practitioner
- Direct clinical assessment and examination
- Treatment planning during the appointment
Private Billing Options
However, clinics are free to set their own private fees. Many already do this through gap fees or separate private charges for non-MBS services such as forms, reports, or administrative tasks.
Gap Fee Model
Include PreConsult fee in your existing private gap amount:
Separate Fee Model
Charge PreConsult as a distinct non-MBS service:
Two Important Financial Upsides to PreConsult
1 Greater Efficiency Within Existing MBS Items
Because PreConsult captures a patient's structured history in advance, practitioners can work more efficiently and complete consults closer to the lower end of the relevant MBS time band.
Example: Level B GP Consult (6–15 minutes)
- See more patients per day without increasing working hours, or
- Maintain the same number of patients with less workload and administrative overhead
2 Optional Private Revenue
If the practice chooses, it can bill privately for the PreConsult component — either as part of the gap fee or as a separate charge.
This allows clinics to:
- Recover the value of the service
- Align with existing billing models
- Offset PreConsult subscription costs
Summary
Questions About Billing Models?
Our team can help you understand how PreConsult fits with your practice's billing approach and optimize your revenue strategy.