MBS item

38203
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Left heart catheterisation via arterial puncture or ventricular puncture with fluoroscopy, oximetry, dye dilution, cardiac output measurement, shunt detection, or exercise stress testing, excluding certain associated procedures.

Category 3 · Therapeutic procedures[Group T8 · subgroup 6](/groups/T8)In hospital only (H)

Schedule fee$636.25

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital—

75% benefitIn hospital$477.20

The schedule fee for MBS item 38203 is $636.25. Medicare pays $477.20 (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$477.20

Fund pays (minimum)$159.05

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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Left heart catheterisation by percutaneous arterial puncture, arteriotomy or percutaneous left ventricular puncture, with any one or more of the following: (a) fluoroscopy; (b) oximetry; (c) dye dilution curves; (d) cardiac output measurements by any method; (e) shunt detection; (f) exercise stress test; other than a service associated with a service to which item 38200, 38206, 38244, 38247, 38248, 38249, 38251, 38252 or 38254 applies (H) (Anaes.)

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=38203)

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=38203) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.