MBS item

294
===

Telehealth consultation with a psychiatrist for bulk-billed patients in remote areas (Modified Monash 2-7, 15+ km away), aged care residents, or Aboriginal health services.

Category 1 · Professional attendances[Group A8](/groups/A8)

Schedule fee—

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital—

75% benefitIn hospital—

MBS item 294 has no fixed schedule fee.

Derived fee

50% of the fee for item 291, 293, 296, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 or 319.

Item descriptor
---------------

Professional attendance on a patient by a consultant physician practising in the consultant physician’s specialty of psychiatry if: (a) the attendance is by video conference; and (b) except for the requirement for the attendance to be at consulting rooms—item 291, 293, 296, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318 or 319 would otherwise apply to the attendance; and (c) the patient is not an admitted patient; and (d) the patient is bulk‑billed; and (e) the patient: (i) is located: (A) within a Modified Monash 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 area; and (B) at the time of the attendance—at least 15 km by road from the physician; or (ii) is a care recipient in a residential aged care facility; or (iii) is a patient of: (A) an Aboriginal medical service; or (B) an Aboriginal community controlled health service; for which a direction made under subsection 19(2) of the Act applies

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=294)

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=294) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.