Medicare Rebate for Pre-implantation Genetic Testing – FAQs

From 1 November 2021, patients will be able to claim a Medicare rebate for several new items for Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT).

It is Important to note that patients will need to meet the Medicare Criteria to be eligible for the rebate. See below for Medicare Criteria.

What PGT tests are covered?

  • PGT-M (monogenic) for couples at risk of passing on recessive, autosomal dominant, or mitochondrial disorders
  • PGT-SR (structural rearrangements) for carriers of chromosomal rearrangements
  • PGT for sex selection for couples at risk of passing on X-linked disorders

The rebate will contribute to the costs of both karyomapping evaluation (as required for PGT-M and some PGT-SR) and the testing of embryo biopsies themselves.

What PGT tests are NOT covered?

  • Screening tests in patients without a known genetic risk (eg. reproductive carrier screening)
  • PGT-A for aneuploidy screening of embryos, in couples without a known risk of a chromosomal disorder

When does the rebate start?

The rebate commences from the 1st of November. For eligible patients to qualify:

  • Test request forms must be dated on or after 01/11/2021
  • Blood specimen collections must be performed on or after 01/11/2021
  • Embryo biopsies must be collected on or after 01/11/2021
  • Meet the Medicare Criteria as listed below.

How will patients be billed?

The female partner will be bulk-billed (for karyomapping evaluation), as well as issued with an invoice from Virtus Diagnostics for embryo biopsy testing fees. They will need to pay Virtus Diagnostics for the stated embryo biopsy testing fees, and will then need to contact Medicare to be reimbursed 85% of the relevant item (depending on the number of embryo biopsies tested).

Please contact our accounts department on 1800 090 325 if you have any questions.

Any questions concerning Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing we  encourage you to speak to your IVF  Specialists.

Medicare Criteria

As per Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 2) Regulations 2021 - F2021L01281

Clause 2.7.3A Items 73384 to 73387 (relating to pre‑implantation genetic testing)—patient eligibility

A patient is eligible for a service described in any of items 73384 to 73387 only if:

  1. the patient or the patient’s reproductive partner:
  • (i)  has an identified gene variant which places the patient at risk of having a pregnancy affected by a Mendelian or mitochondrial disorder; or
  • (ii)  is at risk of an autosomal dominant disorder which places the patient at risk of having a child who develops the autosomal dominant disorder; or
  • (iii)  has a chromosome re‑arrangement or copy number variant which places the patient at risk of having a pregnancy affected by a chromosome disorder; and

2. there is no curative treatment for the disorder and there is severe limitation of quality of life despite contemporary management of the disorder; and

3. the patient has previously had a consultation, with a specialist or consultant physician practising as a clinical geneticist, that included a discussion about the disorder.

73384 – Karyomapping Evaluation

Genetic analysis, for a patient who is eligible for this service under clause 2.7.3A, of samples from the patient and (if relevant) the patient’s reproductive partner, for the purpose of providing an assay for pre‑implantation genetic testing, requested by a specialist or consultant physician

Applicable not more than once per patient episode per disorder (of a kind described in clause 2.7.3A) per reproductive relationship

Medicare schedule fee: $1736.00

73385 – Genetic analysis of embryonic tissue – samples from 1 embryo

Genetic analysis, for a patient who is eligible for this service under clause 2.7.3A, of embryonic tissue from a sample from one embryo, if the analysis is:

  1. for the purpose of providing a pre‑implantation genetic test; and
  2. requested by a specialist or consultant physician; and
  3. performed in the assisted reproductive treatment cycle in which the embryo was produced

Applicable not more than once per embryo.

Medicare schedule fee: $635.00

73386 – Genetic analysis of embryonic tissue – samples from 2 embryos

Genetic analysis, for a patient who is eligible for this service under clause 2.7.3A, of embryonic tissue from samples from 2 embryos, if the analysis is:

  1. for the purpose of providing a pre‑implantation genetic test; and
  2. requested by a specialist or consultant physician; and
  3. performed in the assisted reproductive treatment cycle in which the embryos were produced

Applicable not more than once per assisted reproductive treatment cycle, and not more than once for the 2 embryos tested.

Medicare schedule fee: $1270.00

73387 – Genetic analysis of embryonic tissue – samples from 3 or more embryos

Genetic analysis, for a patient who is eligible for this service under clause 2.7.3A, of embryonic tissue from samples from 3 or more embryos, if the analysis is:

  1. for the purpose of providing a pre‑implantation genetic test; and
  2. requested by a specialist or consultant physician; and
  3. performed in the assisted reproductive treatment cycle in which the embryos were produced

Applicable not more than once per assisted reproductive treatment cycle for the 3 or more embryos tested.

Medicare schedule fee: $1905.00