Australia’s ophthalmic Medicare Benefits Schedule review has recommended significantly dropping the rebate for intravitreal injections and exploring the notion of appropriately trained optometrists and nurses being allowed to perform the procedures.

Released in late August for consultation, the measures focus on three actions:

• Allocate more funding to public hospital ophthalmology staff specialist positions, so that public hospitals have the capacity to treat more patients. These positions should only be made available to ophthalmologists who will participate in the training and supervision of registrars, junior doctors, nurses and optometrists, orthopaedists and students of these professions
• Provide greater patient education on the costs of services, so patients know they have a right to contact clinics and inquire about costs
• A whole of health system review to develop a consumer-centred health system

This Australian ophthalmic review began in June 2018 and is subject to stakeholder feedback before being considered by the MBS Review Taskforce and, if endorsed, consideration by the Australian Minister for Health and then the government. A 15-member Ophthalmology Clinical Committee was formed to provide expert guidance on the subject, chaired by Dr Bradley Horsburgh.

To view the full report go to: www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbs-review-2019-taskforce-reports-cp/$file/Final-Report-Ophthalmology-August-2019.pdf