MBS item

88351
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Surgical repair of facial skin or oral mucous membrane wounds involving subcutaneous tissue around the mouth or jaws, including suturing, post-operative care and suture removal.

[Group U3 · subgroup 5](/groups/U3)

Schedule fee$185.25

100% benefitGP, out of hospital$185.25

85% benefitOut of hospital—

75% benefitIn hospital—

The schedule fee for MBS item 88351 is $185.25. Medicare pays $185.25 (100%) out of hospital. Fee effective 1 January 2026.

Gap for what you charge
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Your fee$

Out of hospital

Medicare pays$185.25

Patient gap$0.00

Bulk billing means accepting $185.25 as full payment, with no gap and no extra charges. [Add incentives](/bulk-billing?item=88351)

Item descriptor
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Repair of skin and subcutaneous tissue or mucous membrane The surgical cleaning and repair of a facial skin wound in the region of the mouth or jaws, or the repair of oral mucous membrane, where the wounds involve the subcutaneous tissues. Inclusive of the insertion of sutures, normal post-operative care and suture removal.

[Explanatory notes and rules on MBS Online ↗](https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=88351)

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=88351) before billing. This is a reference tool, not billing or financial advice.