New applications
You can lodge a new application:
- for public funding of a new health service or technology
- to amend a health service or technology that already receives funding.
Find out about the services and technologies that are in scope for MSAC. Also see our terms of reference.
Most of the amendments we assess are for Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items. These include changes to who can access or provide the service or technology or the subsidy amount. View more examples of amendments to MBS items.
Re-applications
If we did not support an application, you may choose to reapply.
Before lodging a new assessment report, you must lodge either:
- a completed MSAC reapplication template (most reapplications) or
- a new MSAC application form.
From July 2025, we or our secretariat will let you know which form or template to use. This advice may be provided:
- in the Public Summary Document (PSD) for your previous application
- during a post-MSAC debrief or pre-application meeting
- through discussions with our secretariat about the revised applicant-developed assessment report (ADAR).
The advice is based on information available at that time. If your situation changes, please contact our secretariat. For example, let us know if:
- you want to change the PICO beyond what is proposed by MSAC in the previous PSD
- the proposed funding source has changed
- the applicant has changed
- regulatory matters have arisen
- it has been more than two years since MSAC considered the previous application
- there are other major changes not previously flagged with us or our secretariat.
Getting updated advice from our secretariat can help avoid any delays with your reapplication.
Using the reapplication template
You can download the reapplication template and instructions for how to upload the completed template to the Health Products Portal (HPP). Upload the completed template to the HPP when you lodge your notice of intent to submit an ADAR.
Our secretariat will review the completed template and discuss any concerns with you before you submit your ADAR. In rare cases our secretariat may ask you to submit a new MSAC application form to go through the suitability process again before you submit your ADAR.
Using a new MSAC application form
If you need to lodge a new MSAC application form:
- you can copy a previously submitted form in the Health Products Portal and edit it
- you may be able to re-use the ratified PICO (if available) from your previous application
- standard application lodgement dates and suitability processes apply.
What to include
Your new assessment report should address all the issues raised by us in the PSD for your previous application. If you do not plan to address all the issues raised, please discuss this with our secretariat before proceeding.
Before you re-apply, you may wish to request a pre-application meeting to discuss your proposed approach.
Referrals
Policy areas in government agencies and other advisory committees or groups may refer you to MSAC. They include the:
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)
- Medical Devices and Human Tissue Advisory Committee (MDHTAC)
- Jurisdictional Blood Committee (JBC).
If you are referred to us, you will need to lodge an application form and go through the usual MSAC application process. The form will ask you to upload any referral documents you may have received.
Reviews
We will conduct reviews of services or technologies that already receive funding in certain circumstances. For example, if we receive a request that is consistent with our terms of reference from:
- the Australian Government
- a policy team within government
- another committee or group.
Members of the public and health technology companies cannot request a review by MSAC. But you can apply to MSAC for specific amendments – see new applications.
MBS Continuous Review
The Australian Government has set up an independent committee to review the MBS. Anyone can submit a request under the MBS Continuous Review.
The MBS Continuous Review does not consider requests that involve new technologies and treatments, and associated fees. These should come to us as a new application.
Applications with special requirements
Some applications go through the MSAC process with extra or slightly different steps. Find out about the process for:
- high cost, highly specialised therapy (HST) applications
- codependent applications PBAC also considers.
Related information
Find out:
- who can apply
- about suitable health services and technologies
- how to request a pre-application meeting
- how to lodge an application form.
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