Level D GP consultation

Professional attendance by a general practitioner, at least 40 minutes in duration, requiring an extensive history, comprehensive clinical examination, and arrangement of any necessary investigations.

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

Time

40 minutes or more

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.

1An extensive, multi-system history.
2A comprehensive clinical examination with documented findings.
3Multiple investigations or complex management decisions.
4Significant clinical complexity warranting an extended consultation.

Your notes must show

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

An extensive, multi-system history.
A comprehensive examination with documented findings across relevant systems.
Multiple investigations or complex management decisions.
Evidence of significant clinical complexity warranting the extended consultation.
Consultation duration documented or clearly implied by the depth of the note.
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.

Notes that read like a Level C consultation — no demonstrable additional complexity to justify the higher item.
No documented duration where the note depth alone does not imply ≥40 minutes.
MHTP review billed under Item 44 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 C 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 44 on MBS Online

Keep reading