MEDICARE BENEFITS SCHEDULE (MBS) FOR TRANSCATHETER MITRAL VALVE REPAIR (TMVr) WITH THE MITRACLIP DEVICE
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) with the MitraClip device is an increasingly important part of the clinical armamentarium for treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). TMVr provides significant quality of life and prognostic benefits in patients with functional MR who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. Furthermore, TMVr is an important treatment option in patients with degenerative MR who are unacceptably high risk for surgical mitral valve replacement.
On 1 July 2021, the Australian government has provided funding through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for TMVr with the MitraClip device to be undertaken by TMVr accredited clinicians in accredited hospitals. The MBS supported indications for TMVr include high surgical risk patients with:
- Moderate-to-severe or severe symptomatic degenerative (primary) mitral regurgitation; or
- Moderate-to-severe or severe symptomatic functional (secondary) mitral regurgitation
This national funding is a significant step forward in providing greater access for MR patients to TMVr in appropriately credentialed Structural Heart Programs such as Macquarie University Hospital (MUH) and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH).
Since 2013, our Structural Heart Programs at Macquarie University Hospital (MUH) and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) have undertaken TMVr as a key part of a comprehensive approach to MR therapy. Since that time, we have established a world leading program in transcatheter mitral valve therapies that has made seminal contributions in rapidly advancing fields such as transcatheter mitral valve replacement and repair. In recent clinical studies, we have reported some of the best safety and efficacy outcomes for TMVr to date, highlighting our leadership in this rapidly evolving field.
MBS funding for TMVr is a watershed moment for MR patients – it provides much enhanced access to a minimally invasive treatment that provides significant symptomatic and prognostic benefit to many high-risk patients. Our accredited programs at MUH and RPAH provide for comprehensive Heart Team-based assessment and a full range of transcatheter mitral valve interventions for both public and private patients.
Video courtesy of Abbott.