Care plans by phone: the new MBS items from 1 November 2026, explained

From 1 November 2026, chronic condition management plans can be prepared and reviewed over the phone for the first time, through four new MBS items. For patients who need a plan but can't easily attend, it's one of the most practical changes in a while.

The four new items:

• 92033 — GP, phone preparation of a chronic condition management plan.

• 92034 — GP, phone review of a plan.

• 92063 — prescribed medical practitioner, phone preparation.

• 92064 — prescribed medical practitioner, phone review.

Reported fees are around $160.60 for the GP items and $128.55 for the prescribed-practitioner items — confirm the current scheduled fee on MBS Online before you rely on a number.

The timing rules — read carefully: A phone preparation (92033 or 92063) prevents another preparation item being claimed for that patient for 12 months. A phone review (92034 or 92064) prevents another review for 3 months. Both override only where exceptional circumstances apply and are documented. Don't burn a phone prepare on a patient who'll shortly be due a face-to-face plan.

Where phone plans shine: access. The housebound patient whose plan always lapses. The rural patient two hours away. The full-time worker who cancels their long appointment. For these patients, a phone plan is the difference between structured, funded chronic disease management and none at all.

Documentation still matters: phone delivery doesn't lower the bar. The plan content, patient agreement and review findings all still need recording to the same standard. A good template makes that straightforward.

CTA: templates for the new phone items at betterbilling.com.au/templates.

(Disclaimer: item numbers, fees and rules reflect the 1 November 2026 release; fees from secondary sources — confirm on MBS Online. Final billing and clinical decisions remain the treating GP's responsibility.)