The new temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item for use during thallium-201 (Tl-201) supply disruptions was implemented on 1 April 2022.
Item 61644 is a direct substitute of item 61325 and enables the use of FDG PET in place of Tl-201 for cardiac viability testing when Tl-201 is unavailable.
The item will be available from 1 April 2022 until 30 September 2022. (See Factsheet Summary below):
Factsheet – substitute PET item for use during thallium-201 supply shortage.