MBS item

66719
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Thyroid function tests including TSH, free thyroxine and/or free T3 when TSH is abnormal, monitoring thyroid disease, investigating sick euthyroid syndrome, dementia, psychiatric illness, amenorrhoea, infertility, suspected pituitary dysfunction, or…

Category 6 · Pathology services[Group P2](/groups/P2)

Schedule fee$34.80

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital$29.60

75% benefitIn hospital$26.10

The schedule fee for MBS item 66719 is $34.80. Medicare pays $29.60 (85%) out of hospital, or $26.10 (75%) for a privately admitted patient in hospital. Fee effective 1 January 2013.

Gap for what you charge
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Your fee$

Out of hospitalIn hospital (private)

Medicare pays$29.60

Patient gap$5.20

Bulk billing means accepting $29.60 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=66719)

Item descriptor
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Thyroid function tests (comprising the service described in item 66716 and either or both of a test for free thyroxine and a test for free T3) for a patient, if: (a) the patient has a level of TSH that is outside the normal reference range for the particular method of assay used to determine the level; or (b) the request from the requesting medical practitioner indicates that the tests are performed: (i) for the purpose of monitoring thyroid disease in the patient; or (ii) to investigate the sick euthyroid syndrome if the patient is an admitted patient; or (iii) to investigate dementia or psychiatric illness of the patient; or (iv) to investigate amenorrhoea or infertility of the patient; or (c) the request from the requesting medical practitioner indicates that the medical practitioner suspects the patient has a pituitary dysfunction; or (d) the request from the requesting medical practitioner indicates that the patient is on drugs that interfere with thyroid hormone metabolism or function

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=66719)

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

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Guides
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- [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=66719) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.