Patients who want or require contact lenses.

MBS item numbers 10801, 10802, 10803, 10804, 10805, 10806, 10807, 10808, 10816, 10921, 10922, 10923, 10924, 10925, 10926, 10927, 10928, 10929 and 109230

This range of item numbers relates to the investigation, evaluation and fitting on contact lenses.

Patients who have been referred by another optometrist.

MBS item 10905

This is a professional attendance where the patient has been referred by another optometrist not associated with the treating optometrist.

Patients who have been already visited another optometrist for a consultation the last 36 months (if patient is aged under 65 years) or the last 12 moths (if patient is aged over 65 years. 

MBS item 10907

This is a professional attendance where the patient has attended another optometrist for services to which this item or items 1095, 10910, 10911, 10912, 10913, 10914, or 10915 apply.

Patients requiring an initial consultation.

MBS items 10910 and 10911

This is a comprehensive initial consultation. Item 10910 is were the patient is under 65 years of age. Item 10911 is where the patient is at least 65 years of age.

Patients with deterioration, new symptoms or a degenerative disease. 

MBS items 10912, 10913 and 10914

These are consultations where the patient has developed new symptoms, had vision deterioration or has a degenerative disease.

Patient with diabetes mellitus.

MBS item 10915

This is a professional attendance in involving the examination of the eyes, with the installation of a mydriatic, where the patient has diabetes mellitus.

Patient requiring an initial consultation. 

MBS item 10916

This item number is a brief consultation lasting not more than 15 minutes.

Patients who are receiving a course of attention. 

MBS item 10918

Professional attendance being the second or subsequent in a course of attention not related to the prescription and fitting of contact lenses.

Patients who are receiving care in a place other than the optometrist’s rooms.

MBS item 10931 and 10932

Professional attendance at a place other than the optometrist’s consulting rooms.

Patients requiring computerized perimetry. 

MBS item 10940 and 10941

Full computerized perimetry. 

Patients with low vision.

MBS item 10942

Testing of residual vision to provide optimal visual performance. 

Children aged 3 to 14 years. 

MBS item 10943

Additional testing to confirm a diagnosis or establish a treatment regime.

Patients with a foreign object embedded in their eye. 

MBS item 10944

This item number is for the removal of a foreign object from the cornea. 

Patients consulting with an ophthalmologist via telehealth. 

MBS items 10945, 10946, 10947 and 10948

These item numbers relate to professional attendances for telehealth consultations. 

Children with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or an eligible disability. Clients must be aged under 13 years for diagnosis services and aged under 15 years for treatment services

MBS items 82030 and 82035

Item 82030 is for a health service provided by an eligible optometrist to a child under 13 years of age where the child has been referred to assist with diagnosis or to contribute to a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or Disability Treatment Plan. Item 82035 is for a health service provided by an eligible optometrist to a child under 15 years of age for the treatment of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or an eligible disability. Both services require a referral from an eligible practitioner.

Children under the age of six with an eligible disability.

Better Start Iniative

Eligible disabilities are;

• Cerebral palsy
• Deafblindness
• Down syndrome, including mosaic Down syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome with full mutation
• Hearing impairment
• Sight impairment
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Williams syndrome
• Angelman syndrome
• Kabuki syndrome
• Smith-Magenis syndrome
• CHARGE syndrome
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Rett’s Disorder
• Cri du Chat syndrome; or
• Microcephaly

Children registered with Better Start can access up to $12,000 (maximum $6,000 per year) to pay for early intervention services. These services include:

• audiology
• occupational therapy
• orthoptics
• physiotherapy
• psychology and
• speech pathology.

Up to 35% of a child’s Early intervention Funding may be used to purchase resources, to a maximum of $2,100 per financial year, or $4,200 in total.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic conditions.

Visiting Optometrist Scheme (VOS)

The aim of the VOS is to deliver outreach optometry services to people living in regional, rural and remote locations, who do not have ready access to primary eye care services. This includes expanded services to improve eye health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in rural and remote locations. This support is in the form of reimbursement, not lump sum payments.

The allocation decisions for this funding are made by the Department of Health and based primarily on identified service gaps. CheckUP is the regional fundsholder for this program. To begin the application process for this funding, fill out an Expression Of Interest form on their website. You are able to contact CheckUP through their website for support and guidance on this process.

For more information on CheckUP’s outreach programs, visit their website.

Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme

The objective of the IAHP is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with access to effective high quality, comprehensive, culturally appropriate, primary health care services in urban, regional, rural and remote locations across Australia. This includes through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, wherever possible and appropriate, as well as services across the entire health system that deliver comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary health care.

Individuals may apply for funding through Grant Connect. Activities eligible for grant funding include clinical services provided by AHPs. For more information, follow this link.