MBS codes — overview

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is the government list of item numbers that define which scans Medicare rebates and under what conditions. Every invoice we raise carries an item number — and that item number is what decides whether the scan bulk-bills, attracts a reduced rebate, or goes fully private. Getting it right is the difference between a happy patient and a rejected claim.

How item selection works

An MBS item isn't a free choice — it's determined by a combination of factors:

• Region scanned (e.g. cervical spine vs lumbar spine — different items)
• Contrast vs non-contrast (often two sibling items per study)
• Referrer type (GP, specialist, allied health — different items allowed)
• Clinical indication (must match the item's wording in the MBS)
• Frequency limit (most items cap at a number of services per 12 months)

One specific combination maps to one specific item. If any factor changes, the item changes.

By modality

Each modality page has its own MBS reference — jump to the one you need:

• XR codes
• CT codes
• MRI GP-referred codes
• Ultrasound codes
• Breast codes
• DEXA codes
• Dental codes

For the billing-side decision tree (bulk-bill vs private) see /billing/bulk-bill-vs-private. For DVA, WorkCover and TAC specifics see /billing/dva-workcover-tac.

Common modifiers and abbreviations

Written on referrals and invoices — know them on sight.

• NFC — Not For Comparison. Added when a second item is bilateral (e.g. both knees done same visit) to signal the study isn't a duplicate.
• NCBA — Non-Contiguous Body Area. Used when two regions scanned are not anatomically adjacent, which can affect how items are billed together.
• NR — Non-Referred item. Reduced rebate applied when the referrer type is outside the standard allowed list (e.g. some allied-health spine items).
• MT02 — DVA MRI modifier for a licensed MRI scanner.
• MT20 — DVA MRI modifier for an unlicensed MRI scanner (DVA patients still eligible).

When in doubt