Level C GP consultation

Professional attendance by a general practitioner, at least 20 minutes in duration, requiring a detailed history, clinical examination, and arrangement of any necessary investigations.

Plain-English summary. See MBS Online for the verbatim descriptor of each item.

Time

At least 20 minutes (typically up to 40 minutes)

Frequency

Not capped

Referral

Not required

Profession

General Practitioner

Requirements to bill

Conditions imposed by the descriptor that must be met to claim this item.

1A detailed history covering presenting complaint and relevant background.
2A clinical examination with documented findings.
3Arrangement of any necessary investigations (pathology, imaging, referrals).
4Sufficient consultation duration and complexity.

Your notes must show

Documentation tests — what clinical notes need to demonstrate to survive a PSR audit.

A detailed history covering the presenting complaint and relevant background.
Clinical examination findings (not just "examined — NAD").
Investigations ordered or arranged (pathology, imaging, referrals).
A clear assessment and management plan.
Evidence the consultation was of sufficient complexity and duration.
When this attendance functions as an MHTP review: AN.0.56 advisory timing dates documented (the note states a review "should not" be undertaken within 4 weeks of the MHTP or within 3 months of the previous review — Medicare does not auto-reject outside these intervals but PSR review may flag), reassessment with the original validated tool, progress against each MHTP goal, and any plan modifications with reasoning.

Common audit failures

Patterns the Professional Services Review scheme and Medicare audits flag.

Brief progress notes that lack examination findings or detailed history (e.g. "Diabetes review. HbA1c 7.2. Continue metformin. Review 3 months.") fail to demonstrate Item 36 complexity.
No documented investigation arrangements where the clinical picture would warrant them.
Item 36 billing rate significantly above the national average for the practice — a common PSR statistical-outlier trigger.
MHTP review billed under Item 36 without documenting the AN.0.56 advisory timing dates or without reassessment against MHTP goals (PSR review may flag claims outside the AN.0.56 intervals even though Medicare does not auto-reject them).

Related MBS items

Level B GP consultation

Level D GP consultation

2715

GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (20 to less than 40 minutes)

2717

GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (at least 40 minutes)

Templates that document this item

Note templates inside Grounded Scribe that produce documentation aligned to this MBS item.

GP MHTP Review (Items 23 / 36 / 44 — AN.0.56 timing)

GP Mental Health Treatment Plan review under the time-tiered attendance items (23 Level B, 36 Level C, 44 Level D). The legacy dedicated review item 2712 was retired; the AN.0.56 timing rule still applies — at least 4 weeks since the MHTP was prepared and at least 3 months since the previous review.

In-depth reading in the Library

Medicare Audit-Ready Documentation: A GP's Guide to MBS Item Number Compliance

Professional Services Review audits can result in repayment demands, exclusion from Medicare, and public referral. Your clinical notes are the primary evidence in any PSR investigation. This guide details exactly what your documentation must contain to withstand scrutiny.

A Guide to Clinical Note Templates for Australian Practitioners

From SOAP notes to MBS-compliant templates, learn how to choose the right clinical note format for your profession, your clients, and Medicare billing requirements.

Source authority

Documentation tests on this page reference the descriptor conditions and PSR-audit patterns covered in our existing Library guides. Always confirm current rules against the official descriptor.

Item 36 on MBS Online

Keep reading