The MBS Review Taskforce has released its first list of potentially defunct MBS items for further consultation.

The 23 items announced by Health Minister Sussan Ley include seven in diagnostic imaging, nine in ENT surgery, five in gastroenterology and one each in obstetrics and thoracic medicine.

The Clinical Committee chaired by Dr Anne Duggan, a gastroenterologist at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle identified items 13500, 13503, 30493, 32078 and 32081 as obsolete and recommended they be removed from the MBS.

The consultation is open until 8 February.

For more information on the items and consultation click here.