Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1006

Endoluminal grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Application No.

1006
Application NameEndoluminal grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysm
Advisory PanelsMr Stephen Blamey
(Chair and MSAC member)
Assoc Professor Jeremy Anderson
(co-opted member)
Professor James May
(Royal Australian College of Surgeons nominee)
Clinical Assoc Professor Ken Myers
(Royal Australian College of Surgeons nominee)
Dr John Primrose
(MSAC Medical Advisor)
Mr John Royle
(Royal Australian College of Surgeons nominee)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat1 August 1997
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 24 February 1999 meeting.

The MSAC noted that endoluminal grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms is already claimable under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), and that for some patients, no other treatment is possible. Therefore, the MSAC recommended:
  • that current MBS items for abdominal aortic aneurysms be restricted to open aortic repair; but endoluminal repair continue to receive public funding under alternative arrangements;
  • that as the long-term outcomes of the procedure are not clear, an informed consent protocol must be formulated and must be provided to each prospective patient;
  • that the MSAC explores the issue of data collection on this procedure with stakeholders, with a view to developing a collaborative partnership in obtaining the data required; and
  • that a further review of the procedure be undertaken when additional Australian and/or overseas data become available.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 11 May 1999
Stage 5 - Implementation

Page currency, Latest update: 03 April, 2009