Australasian Sonographers Association

Member Area Login

If this is the first time you are logging into the ASA website or you can't remember your password, please select Get a new password below to be sent a link to your registered email address.

New complex gynecological ultrasound code

New complex gynecological ultrasound code


Answer

  1. December 4, 2025 aA 9:52 AM

    Hi Christine,

    Thanks for your question regarding the new MBS item 55080 – Complex Gynaecological Ultrasound.

    According to the MBS explanatory note IN.1.11, item 55080 applies when:

    1. The patient is known or suspected to have a complex gynaecological condition (e.g. severe endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic congestion syndrome, chronic PID or pelvic-floor dysfunction).
    2. The service “is considered a complex investigation requiring a minimum of 30 minutes scanning time.”
    3. No other pelvic ultrasound item (55038, 55065, 55700, 55704, 55736 or 55739) is performed for the same patient within 24 hours

    Regarding appointment length:

    The MBS wording specifies minimum scanning time, not minimum appointment duration. That means the sonographer must be scanning for at least 30 minutes, separate from setup, patient discussion, reporting and room turnaround.


    At a lot of clinics an allocation of a 45-minute scan appointment for item 55080 is appropriate. This allows:

    • A true 30 minutes of continuous scanning,
    • Time for detailed documentation and reporting,
    • Patient discussion and consent,
    • Room reset and transition.

    If a clinic only allocates a 30-minute appointment, this may not allow enough time to meet the minimum 30 minutes scanning requirement, as preparation and reporting would likely reduce actual scanning time below the threshold.

}