MBS item

297
===

Psychiatrist consultation lasting over 45 minutes at hospital for new patients or those not seen by the psychiatrist in 24 months, following general practitioner referral.

Category 1 · Professional attendances[Group A8](/groups/A8)ReferredIn hospital only (H)

Schedule fee$316.30

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital—

75% benefitIn hospital$237.25

The schedule fee for MBS item 297 is $316.30. Medicare pays $237.25 (75%) for a privately admitted patient in hospital. Fee effective 1 July 2026.

Gap for what you charge
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Your fee$

In hospital (private)

Medicare pays$237.25

Fund pays (minimum)$79.05

Patient gap$0.00

Assumes a privately admitted patient whose hospital cover includes this service. The fund must pay at least 25% of the schedule fee. Pick a fund rate below to see its no-gap or known-gap split.

Item descriptor
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Professional attendance lasting more than 45 minutes by a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician's speciality of psychiatry following referral of the patient to the consultant physician by a referring practitioner—an attendance at hospital if the patient: (a) is a new patient for this consultant physician; or (b) has not received a professional attendance from this consultant physician in the preceding 24 months; other than attendance on a patient in relation to whom this item, or any of items 296, 299, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 91827 to 91831, 91837 to 91839, 92437 and 92478 to 92483 has applied in the preceding 24 months (H)

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=297)

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

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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=297) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.