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Date Updated: 2025-08-29

What Hours Are Defined As “After Hours”?

This will depend on the item numbers and if it’s an Urgent or Non-Urgent After-Hours Attendance. See below:

Items 585, 588, 591, 594 (Urgent):

Weekdays: Between 7am-8am and 6pm-11pm
Saturday: Between 7am-8am and 12nn-11pm
Sunday and/or public holidays: Between 7am-11pm

Items 599, 600 (Urgent in unsociable hours):

All days: Between 11pm – 7am

Items 5000, 5020, 5040, 5060, 5071, 5200, 5203, 5207, 5208, 5209 (Non-Urgent in consulting rooms):

Weekdays: Before 8am or after 8pm
Saturday: Before 8am or after 1pm
Sunday and/or public holidays: Anytime

Please note there are also specific after-hours for the Approved Medical Deputising Services (AMDS) Program and 19AB After hours exemption.

AMDS Program:

Weekdays: After 6pm and before 8am on weekdays
Saturday: Before 8am and from 12pm onwards
Sunday and/or public holidays: Anytime

After Hours Exemption:

Weekdays: Between 6pm and 8am Monday to Friday
Saturday, Sunday and/or public holidays: Anytime

What Item Numbers Can I Bill?

You can bill item numbers from Urgent After-Hours Attendances and Non-Urgent After-Hours Attendances.

Urgent After-Hours Attendances are used when a patient needs urgent treatment that could not be delayed until the next in-hours period. If assessment is deemed as urgent then, you can bill 585, 588, 591, and 594 item numbers in an after-hours period. If the time of the assessment is under the unsociable hours, which are from 11pm to 7am in an after-hours period, then you can bill 599 and 600 item numbers.

Here are the list of Urgent After-Hours Attendances item numbers you can bill:

Item 585 – For VR Doctors (FRACGP or FRACCRM) or Doctors in an approved Fellowship training program for general practice
Item 588 – For Non-VR Doctors in MM2-7 areas
Item 591 – For Non-VR Doctors in MM1 area
Item 594 – This must be used for the second and any additional services provided to patients during the same visit. For Medical practitioners who routinely provide services to patients in the after-hours periods at consulting rooms, or who provide the services for a general practice or clinic that routinely provides services to patients in after-hours periods at consulting rooms, will not be able to bill urgent after-hours items 585, 588, 591, 594, 599 and 600.
Item 599 – During unsociable hours (Between 11pm – 7am), for VR Doctors (FRACGP or FRACCRM) or Doctors in an approved Fellowship training program for general practice
Item 600 – During unsociable hours (Between 11pm – 7am), for Non-VR Doctors

You can also bill Non-Urgent After-Hours Attendances in consulting rooms which have the bill item numbers: 5000, 5020, 5040, and 5060. Consultations must be before 8am or after 8pm on weekdays, before 8am or after 1pm on Saturday, or anytime on Sunday and public holidays.

Here are the list of Non-Urgent After-Hours Attendances item numbers you can bill:

Item 5000 – For an obvious problem
Item 5020 – Lasting at least 6 mins and less than 20 mins
Item 5040 – Lasting at least 20 mins
Item 5060 – Lasting at least 40 mins
Item 5071 – Lasting at least 60 mins

You can check this table below for reference:

What If I Do Home Visits?

Home Visit Item Numbers are: 5003, 5023, 5043, 5063. Please note that these are also under Non-Urgent After-Hours Attendances:

Item 5003 – For a short patient history
Item 5023 – Lasting at least 6 mins and less than 20 mins
Item 5043 – Lasting at least 20 mins
Item 5063 – Lasting at least 40 mins

These Tables Are A Handy Guide…

If you want a simple guide for each item number and applicable timeslots, then you may use see the table same as above which came from the MBS Medicare Benefits Schedule – Note AN.0.19 and has been taken as of 8 August 2025.

If you need help, please don’t hesitate to contact our team!

We Can Help You

Here at People Medical Consulting, we have a passion for guiding medical practitioners through their career pathways to Australia. We have extensive experience in assisting medical facilities in recruiting doctors from local and overseas who will best suit their requirements.

We provide Document Assistance for those requiring support for their PESCI with IME, ACRRM or RACGP, registration and all other mandatory AHPRA requirements, fellowship program related forms and letters, application for Medicare provider and prescriber numbers, application for 19AB or 19AA exemptions and preparation of employment documents.

If you want to talk to someone about your pathway or practice management—book a consultation with us below, or if you need Recruitment or Document Assistance, contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au or click the buttons below. We’d be glad to help you!

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Information from this blog has been taken directly from:

Related Blogs or FAQs

MBS ITEMS – Quick Reference Guide