MASS (Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme) — QLD GP Reference
📋 Source: Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme — Queensland Health (health.qld.gov.au/mass). Queensland only, not a Medicare/MBS program.
Your patient's specific circumstances always take priority over this general reference — check the current MASS General Guidelines before applying.
What MASS funds, who it's for, general eligibility, and how the online application system works.
In one line
MASS is a Queensland Government scheme (not Medicare) that subsidises medical aids and equipment — wheelchairs, home oxygen, continence products, mobility aids and more — for eligible Queenslanders with a permanent and stabilised condition or disability, to help them live at home rather than move into residential care early. Applications go through MASS-eApply, and prescribers need to register an account.
General client eligibility
To be eligible for MASS in general, a client needs to: be a permanent resident of Queensland; have a permanent/stable condition or disability (MASS is not for short-term or improving conditions); hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or Queensland Government Senior Card; and meet the clinical eligibility criteria specific to the aid being requested.
Eligibility criteria and eligible prescribers differ by aid category. The general criteria above apply across MASS, but each of the 11 aid categories below has its own clinical eligibility rules and its own list of who can prescribe it — some categories (orthoses, prosthetics, spectacles) are typically prescribed by the relevant allied health specialist rather than a GP. Check the specific category page (linked below) before applying rather than assuming a GP referral alone is sufficient.
What MASS funds
Aids are either supplied on permanent loan, provided as consumables, or — if the client pays more than 50% of the cost — transferred to private ownership (with the client then responsible for repairs). Eleven categories, each with its own guidelines and forms:
Communication aidsArtificial larynges, AAC software/iPads, speech generating devices, voice amplifiers.
Continence aidsDisposable/reusable pads, catheters, catheter valves, sheaths, drainage bags.
Daily living aidsHome equipment supporting independent living — hoists, slings and similar.
Mobility aidsWheeled walking aids, manual and power wheelchairs.
Home oxygenOxygen supplies for adults and children, including concentrators and cylinders.
Heat moisture exchangers (HME)HMEs and related consumables.
Medical-grade footwearCustomised, custom-made and prefabricated footwear.
Spinal & lower limb orthosesSpinal and lower-limb orthotic devices.
Prosthetic limbsVia the Queensland Artificial Limb Service — funding for a basic definitive prosthesis.
SpectaclesOne pair of basic prescription spectacles, once every 2 years.
Palliative care equipment & syringe driversTwo separate programs (MASS PCEP and MASS PCSDP) for palliative care aids and syringe injection drivers.
Applying: MASS-eApply
MASS-eApply is the preferred (online) way to submit applications. Prescribers register an account, then submit applications for their client through the portal — this includes tracking status and downloading a PDF of a submitted application. A general MASS 84 form gives MASS staff proxy access to check a client's Centrelink concession-card status when a copy of the card isn't attached to the application.
MASS also runs clinical education (webinars and workshops) for prescribers, clients and carers on using the scheme and specific aid categories.
Rural & remote patients
MASS has separate guidance for rural and remote areas of Queensland — check the rural/remote page (linked below) if your patient is outside a major centre, since assessment and supply arrangements can differ.
GP role & billing
MASS is a Queensland Government scheme, not a Medicare/MBS program — there's no MBS item for a MASS application itself. Any GP time spent assessing the patient or completing paperwork is billed under the relevant standard consultation item, the same as any other consult.
Sources & clinical disclaimer
General clinical-administration reference, not a substitute for the current MASS General Guidelines or clinical judgement. Eligibility criteria, forms and eligible-prescriber lists change and differ by category — verify at health.qld.gov.au/mass before applying. Current as at September 2026.