MBS item 81000 ===== Non-directive pregnancy support counselling by eligible psychologist for pregnant patients or those pregnant in past 12 months, referred by GP, maximum 30-minute sessions (up to 3 total per pregnancy). Category 8 · Miscellaneous services[Group M8](/groups/M8)Referred Schedule fee$87.50 100% benefitGP, out of hospital— 85% benefitOut of hospital$74.40 75% benefitIn hospital— The schedule fee for MBS item 81000 is $87.50. Medicare pays $74.40 (85%) out of hospital. Fee effective 1 July 2026. Gap for what you charge ----------------------- Your fee$ Out of hospital Medicare pays$74.40 Patient gap$13.10 Bulk billing means accepting $74.40 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=81000) Extended Medicare Safety Net cap: $262.50 (300% of the schedule fee, up to $500.00). Once a patient reaches the EMSN threshold, the extra benefit for this item is 80% of their out-of-pocket cost, but no more than this cap. [How safety nets work](/guides/medicare-safety-nets) Item descriptor --------------- Non‑directive pregnancy support counselling health service provided to a patient who is currently pregnant or who has been pregnant in the preceding 12 months, by an eligible psychologist if: (a) the patient is concerned about a current pregnancy or a pregnancy that occurred in the 12 months preceding the provision of the first service; and (b) the patient is referred by a medical practitioner who is not a specialist or consultant physician; and (c) the eligible psychologist does not have a direct pecuniary interest in a health service that has as its primary purpose the provision of services for pregnancy termination; and (d) the service is at least 30 minutes duration; to a maximum of 3 services (including services to which items 81000, 81005 or 81010, items 792 or 4001 in the general medical services table, or items 92136, 92138, 93026, 93029, 92137 or 92139 in the Telehealth Attendance Determination apply) for each pregnancy [Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=81000) 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=81000) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.