MBS item 55600 ===== Ultrasound scan of prostate, bladder base and urethra performed by a medical practitioner (not the assessing specialist) after digital rectal examination, on patients assessed by a urology, radiation oncology or medical oncology specialist within 60… Category 5 · Diagnostic imaging services[Group I1 · subgroup 4](/groups/I1) Schedule fee$128.60 100% benefitGP, out of hospital— 85% benefitOut of hospital$109.35 75% benefitIn hospital$96.45 The schedule fee for MBS item 55600 is $128.60. Medicare pays $109.35 (85%) out of hospital, or $96.45 (75%) for a privately admitted patient in hospital. Fee effective 1 July 2026. Gap for what you charge ----------------------- Your fee$ Out of hospitalIn hospital (private) Medicare pays$109.35 Patient gap$19.25 Bulk billing means accepting $109.35 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=55600) Item descriptor --------------- Prostate, bladder base and urethra, ultrasound scan of, if performed: (a) personally by a medical practitioner (not being the medical practitioner who assessed the patient as specified in paragraph (c)) using one or more transducer probes that can obtain both axial and sagittal scans in 2 planes at right angles; and(b) after a digital rectal examination of the prostate by that medical practitioner; and(c) on a patient who has been assessed by: (i) a specialist in urology, radiation oncology or medical oncology; or(ii) a consultant physician in medical oncology; who has: (iii) examined the patient in the 60 days before the scan; and(iv) recommended the scan for the management of the patient’s current prostatic disease(R) [Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=55600) Health fund and DVA rates ------------------------- 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=55600) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.