One of the biggest changes to the Medicare Benefits Scheme in history is now underway, and Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman has warned it will mean higher gap payments for one in six items.

The changes are the result of the Morrison Government’s long-running Medicare Benefits Review, and Australian medical bodies have warned there is no doubt there will be cases where costs go up for patients.

“The items being changed include orthopaedic surgery items, cardiac surgery, and a range of general surgery. More than 900 out of 5,700 items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule are being changed,” Ms Templeman said.

“The government hasn’t actually published the full list of Medicare amendments to be made, and that’s why health fund providers, the AMA, and the Gr