---
title: "Aus Budget Announcement: Video Telehealth Reimbursements Extended"
description: The Australian federal budget has extended telehealth services until December 2021 with a further $204.6 million investment.
---

[Telehealth Blog, News & Updates | Coviu ](https://www.coviu.com/en-us/resources/blog)

# [Aus Budget Announcement: Video Telehealth Reimbursements Extended](https://www.coviu.com/en-us/resources/blog/telehealth-reimbursements-extended)

 Written by [Andreana Younes](https://www.coviu.com/en-us/resources/blog/author/andreana-younes) | May 11, 2021 11:30:00 PM

The Australian federal budget announcement has been made! Telehealth services will be extended until 31st December 2021 with a further $204.6 million investment.

The Australian Government is investing an additional [$204.6 million to support continued access to universal telehealth for all Australians](https://aahms.org/news/aahms-analysis-2021-22-federal-budget/), building on prior investment of $3.6 billion since March 2020. Now that there is clarity around telehealth’s future in Australia, your practice can confidently proceed with video telehealth, knowing you’ll see a great return on your investment.

The Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) items that have been extended until 31st December 2021 include the following types of services:

- Specialists
- General Practitioners
- Nursing
- Midwifery
- Allied Health and Allied Mental Health Attendances

Rumour also has it that as of 1st July 2021, the Federal Government will drop 14 of the top paying COVID-19 phone consultation items for GPs, leaving in place only two MBS items, one for a short consult of less than 6 minutes and the other for consults less than 20 minutes. Reported by [The Australian Doctor](https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/medicares-gp-telehealth-items-extended-until-2022).

 

 

Video telehealth is not a replacement or substitute for traditional face-to-face care, but rather an additional option to increase the accessibility of services that patients will continue to use into the future. And with [44% of Australians](https://www.coviu.com/en-au/blog/demanding-telehealth-70-of-aussies-think-all-gps-should-offer-video-telehealth) saying they would switch to a GP that offers video telehealth, you cannot afford not to provide this service.

[View full post](https://www.coviu.com/en-us/resources/blog/telehealth-reimbursements-extended)

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