Medicare changes for Cone Beam CT

From 1 November 2014, existing Cone Beam CT (CBCT) dental items have been replaced by new items 57362 and 57363.

As recommended by the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), these new items are accompanied by a range of restrictions. The major changes are summarised below:

General dentists can no longer request CBCT services under Medicare. The new items can be requested by medical practitioners and specialist dentists

To be Medicare eligible, services must be delivered in practices accredited under the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme, and performed on dedicated CBCT units;

Claims for more than one CBCT per patient per day are excluded; and claiming for two-dimensional imaging in the same attendance (items 57959 – 57969) and with CT in the same attendance (items 56001 – 57361) is also excluded.