MBS item 75870: Bulk billing incentive, Level B–E consults (MM1 practice)

What to check before you bill item 75870

Each line links to the MBS passage it comes from.

• Bulk billed: both this incentive and the item it goes with Item 75870
• An unreferred service (the patient wasn't referred to the doctor for it). This descriptor doesn't repeat it, but MN.1.8 applies it to every incentive MN.1.8
• Patient isn't an admitted hospital patient Item 75870
• Practice (the location of the provider number used) is in a Modified Monash 1 (metropolitan) area. The descriptor has no area limit of its own; the MM 1 claiming table makes this the MM 1 item, and practices in MM 2–7 use their own area's item MN.1.3
• Claimed with a Level B–E face-to-face consult or a Level B video or phone consult (in the rooms, away from them, in aged care, or after hours): the middle column of the MM 1 claiming table (see requires) Item 75870
• Not one of the after-hours items listed in 75872 given away from the rooms with the patient in an MM 2–7 area: 75872 applies to that instead (this item's descriptor gives way to 75872) MN.1.3
• One incentive goes with each MBS item billed: a consultation and a procedure at the same visit each carry their own MN.1.8

What item 75870 needs first

• Goes with one of the GP Level B–E consults in the MM 1 table's middle column (in the MM 1 table the after-hours items away from the rooms carry a fused footnote number: "50234" is 5023, footnote 4) MN.1.3 (items 23, 36, 44, 123, 24, 37, 47, 124, 90035, 90043, 90051, 90054, 91800, 91891, 5020, 5040, 5060, 5071, 5023, 5043, 5063, 5076, 5028, 5049, 5067, and 5077)
• Goes with one of the Level B–E consults by a medical practitioner who isn't a GP in the MM 1 table's middle column (in the MM 1 table the after-hours items away from the rooms carry a fused footnote number: "50234" is 5023, footnote 4) MN.1.3 (items 53, 54, 57, 151, 59, 60, 65, 165, 90093, 90095, 90096, 90098, 91803, 91893, 5203, 5207, 5208, 5209, 737, 741, 745, 2197, 5223, 5227, 5228, 5261, 763, 766, 769, 2198, 5263, 5265, 5267, 5262, 776, 788, 789, and 2200)

Billing item 75870 with other items

Can’t be billed with item 75870

• Antenatal visit with a practice nurse, midwife, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (items 16400, 91850, and 91855)
  • No bulk-billing incentive: an incentive payment is built into the fee TN.4.15

Can be billed with item 75870

• Vaccine given by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (item 10988)
  • One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed MN.12.6
• Wound care by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner (item 10989)
  • One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed MN.12.6
• Practice nurse follow-up after a health check (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient) (items 10987, 93200, and 93202)
  • One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed MN.12.6
• Practice nurse service for a patient with a care plan (items 10997, 93201, and 93203)
  • One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed MN.12.6
• Nurse or Aboriginal health worker support during a specialist video consult (item 10983)
  • One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed MN.12.6
• Heart health check (items 699 and 177)
  • Bulk-billing incentive items, if their own conditions are met AN.14.2

Common questions

What is the fee for MBS item 75870?

The schedule fee is $26.35, and the Medicare benefit is 85% of it ($22.40). That’s under the MBS in force from 1 August 2026.

Can you bill 75870 and 10987 together?

Yes. One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed. (Source: MBS MN.12.6.)

Can you bill 75870 and 10997 together?

Yes. One bulk-billing incentive when bulk billed. (Source: MBS MN.12.6.)

Can you bill 75870 and 699 together?

Yes. Bulk-billing incentive items, if their own conditions are met. (Source: MBS AN.14.2.)

Can you bill 75870 and 16400 together?

No. No bulk-billing incentive: an incentive payment is built into the fee. (Source: MBS TN.4.1.)

What can’t item 75870 be billed with?

The MBS has a rule against billing item 75870 with these: antenatal visit with a practice nurse, midwife, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner. Each rule and its source is on this page.

Sources

• Item 75870: Group M1 Management Of Bulk-Billed Services › Subgroup 2 General support service
• Note MN.1.8: – Modified Monash 7
• Note MN.1.3: – Modified Monash 1
• Note MN.12.6: Services provided on behalf of a medical practitioner by a practice nurse and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care professionals (MBS Items 10983, 10987, 10988, 10989, 10997, 93200, 93201, 93202, 93203)
• Note AN.14.2: Heart health assessment provided by general practitioners and prescribed medical practitioners
• Note TN.4.15: Obstetric MBS Telehealth (video and phone) attendance items
• Note TN.4.1: Antenatal Service Provided by a Nurse, Midwife or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner - (Item 16400)