Application Detail

Description of Medical Service

The proposed medical service is surgical repair of a symptomatic rectus diastasis that is a consequence of pregnancy, which is over the threshold distance of 3cm, and where patients have a recognised and documented pattern of symptoms - low back pain, daily abdominal discomfort on functional use, and/or urinary incontinence. The repair would involve suturing the musculoaponeurotic layer of the abdominal wall, and include associated excision of redundant skin and fat, and transposition of the umbilicus (radical abdominoplasty). It would not be performed within 12 months of pregnancy.

Description of Medical Condition

The medical condition is the combination of low back pain, truncal instability, abdominal discomfort, +/- urinary incontinence, associated with significant rectus abdominis diastasis. This constellation of symptoms is not currently named as a syndrome, but meets the definition of a syndrome (Oxford English Dictionary definition of a syndrome is “a collection of symptoms that consistently occur together, or a condition characterised by a consistent set of symptoms”), and could be named “Rectus diastasis syndrome”.

Reason for Application

Amendment of existing MBS item(s)

Medical Service Type

Therapeutic

Previous Application Number/s

1546

Associated Documentation

Application Form

Application Form (PDF 1226 KB)
Application Form (Word 110 KB)

Consultation Survey

Consultation Survey (PDF 560 KB)
Consultation Survey (Word 70 KB)

PICO Confirmation

See previous application

Assessment Report

-

Public Summary Document

Public Summary Document (PDF 760 KB)
Public Summary Document (Word 253 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

Expedited - Bypassing PASC

ESC

10-11 June 2021

MSAC

29-30 July 2021