Medicare is Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. Medicare provides access to free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such as doctors, specialists, optometrists, and, in specific circumstances, dentists and other allied health practitioners. Medicare also provides free treatment as a public patient in a public hospital. All Australian residents and overseas visitors covered by a reciprocal health-care agreement requiring immediate medical attention are eligible for subsidised treatment under Medicare. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a listing of services that qualify for a benefit under the Health Insurance Act 1973. The associated MBS claims data comprise information on MBS services claimed through Medicare.

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