MBS item

15978
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Complex 3D brachytherapy dosimetry planning for multi-source/needle applicators with dose optimisation to target and organs at risk, including structure delineation and DVH analysis.

Category 3 · Therapeutic procedures[Group T2 · subgroup 13](/groups/T2)

Schedule fee$1,132.65

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital$1,028.15

75% benefitIn hospital$849.50

The schedule fee for MBS item 15978 is $1,132.65. Medicare pays $1,028.15 (85%) out of hospital, or $849.50 (75%) for a privately admitted patient in hospital. Fee effective 1 July 2026.

Gap for what you charge
-----------------------

Your fee$

Out of hospitalIn hospital (private)

Medicare pays$1,028.15

Patient gap$104.50

Bulk billing means accepting $1,028.15 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=15978)

Item descriptor
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Complex level dosimetry for brachytherapy plans that contain multiple needles, catheters or radiation sources, calculated on the three‑dimensional volumetric dataset, if: (a) the planning process is required to deliver a prescribed dose to a target volume relative to multiple channel delivery applicators, needles or catheters or radiation sources; and (b) based on review and assessment by a radiation oncologist, the planning process requires the differential of doses between the target, organs at risk and normal tissue dose using avoidance strategies (which include the placement of sources and/or dwell times or tissue packing; and (c) delineation of structures is required as part of the planning process, in order to produce a dose‑volume histogram to review and assess the plan; and (d) dose calculations are performed on a personalised basis, which must include three‑dimensional dose calculation to target and organ at risk volumes; and (e) dose calculations and the dose‑volume histogram are approved and recorded with the plan

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=15978)

Health fund and DVA rates
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Total fee each scheme recognises for this item in hospital.

StateNSWVICQLDSAWATASACTNT

Guides
------

- [How Medicare benefits work: schedule fees, 75%, 85% and 100%](/guides/how-medicare-benefits-work)
- [Medicare safety nets explained: original and extended (EMSN) thresholds for 2026](/guides/medicare-safety-nets)
- [In-hospital billing: the 75% benefit, the 25% fund benefit, and no-gap and known-gap schemes](/guides/in-hospital-billing-and-gap-cover)
- [Bulk billing incentives and BBPIP explained: 2026 amounts by MM area](/guides/bulk-billing-incentives)
- [The MBS multiple operation rule and surgical assistant fees](/guides/multiple-operation-rule)
- [Assignment of benefit for bulk billing: the changes from 1 July 2026](/guides/assignment-of-benefit-2026)
- [MBS telehealth rules: the eligible telehealth practitioner and phone items](/guides/mbs-telehealth-rules)
- [GP chronic condition management plans: items 965 and 967 explained](/guides/chronic-condition-management-plans)
- [Medicare billing compliance: claim time limits, records and the 80/20 rule](/guides/medicare-billing-compliance)

Data source: [Australian Government Medicare Benefits Schedule](https://www.mbsonline.gov.au/) · Record updated 1 September 2026. Health fund rates come from each fund's published schedule. Verify item descriptors, rules and fees on [MBS Online](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=15978) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.