Summary (current as of Oct 2, 2025)

• Expanded Medicare-funded telehealth services are ongoing — they were made permanent from 1 January 2022 and remain part of the MBS. (Health.gov.au)
• Telehealth covers video and (in many cases) phone consultations for GPs, specialists, nurse practitioners, midwives and some allied health services when clinically appropriate. (Health.gov.au)
• There are specific MBS item numbers for telehealth (separate video and phone items). Phone items exist for many consultations but some phone items have conditions (for example patient enrolment in MyMedicare can affect eligibility for particular phone items). See the MBS item listings for the exact item numbers and conditions. (www9.Health.gov.au)
• For GP telehealth, a common rule is that the patient must have seen the GP (or another GP in the same practice) face-to-face within the previous 12 months for Medicare-subsidised GP telehealth — there are limited exceptions to that rule. (This requirement is stated on the Department’s telehealth page.) (Health.gov.au)
• The MBS (Department of Health) publishes up-to-date details about which item numbers apply for video vs phone, service duration requirements and any MyMedicare/bulk-billing conditions; these pages were updated through 2025 (individual item pages show description, start date and recent updates). If you need specific item numbers or fee amounts for a type/length of consultation, check the MBS item pages. (www9.Health.gov.au)
• The government also supports bulk-billing incentives tied to location (Modified Monash Model areas) and MyMedicare enrolment — these affect the additional payments clinics or GPs can claim when bulk-billing eligible patients for telehealth services. Publication/changes to these incentives were made in 2025. (www9.Health.gov.au)

What to check for your situation

• Which specific MBS item number will be used (different items for video vs phone, length of consult, GP vs specialist). Use the MBS search to confirm the exact item and schedule fee. (www9.Health.gov.au)
• Whether a phone consult is eligible in your case (MyMedicare enrolment and the 12‑month prior face‑to‑face rule can matter). (Health.gov.au)
• Whether the provider will bulk-bill or charge an out‑of‑pocket fee — telehealth can be bulk‑billed but not all providers bulk‑bill. The bulk-billing incentive rules may change how clinics set fees. (www9.Health.gov.au)

Where to read the primary sources (recommended)

• Department of Health — Telehealth overview and consumer information (includes the 12‑month rule and note that many pandemic changes were retained). (Health.gov.au)
• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) — search specific telehealth item numbers (video/phone attendance items, bulk‑billing incentive entries and item detail pages). Use the MBS item pages for the precise wording, fees and any recent updates. (www9.Health.gov.au)

If you want, I can:

• Look up the exact MBS item number and current schedule fee for a particular consultation type/length (GP Level B/C/D etc.) and tell you whether phone or video is claimable under Medicare for that item.