MBS item

73453
=====

Genetic testing to determine carrier status for 12 recessive disorders in reproductive-age patients of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, including cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs, and spinal muscular atrophy; once per lifetime.

Category 6 · Pathology services[Group P7](/groups/P7)

Schedule fee$425.00

100% benefitGP, out of hospital—

85% benefitOut of hospital$361.25

75% benefitIn hospital$318.75

The schedule fee for MBS item 73453 is $425.00. Medicare pays $361.25 (85%) out of hospital, or $318.75 (75%) for a privately admitted patient in hospital. Fee effective 1 November 2023.

Gap for what you charge
-----------------------

Your fee$

Out of hospitalIn hospital (private)

Medicare pays$361.25

Patient gap$63.75

Bulk billing means accepting $361.25 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=73453)

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

Characterisation of germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic gene variants: (a) in at least the following genes: (i) ASPA; (ii) BLM; (iii) CFTR; (iv) ELP1; (v) FANCA; (vi) FANCC; (vii) FANCG; (viii) FMR1; (ix) G6PC1; (x) GBA1; (xi) HEXA; (xii) MCOLN1; (xiii) SLC37A4; (xiv) SMN1; (xv) SMPD1; and (b) in a patient of reproductive age who is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent for the purpose of ascertaining the patient’s carrier status for the following: (i) Bloom syndrome (ii) Canavan disease (iii) Cystic fibrosis (iv) Familial dysautonomia (v) Fanconi anaemia type C (vi) Fragile-X syndrome (vii) Gaucher disease (viii) Glycogen storage disease type I (ix) Mucolipidosis type IV (x) Niemann-Pick disease type A 7 (xi) Spinal muscular atrophy (xii) Tay-Sachs disease Applicable once per lifetime

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=73453)

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=73453) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.