Health Insurance Act 1973 Direction under subsection 19(2) (27/05/2004) (Cth)

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEING

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973

DIRECTION UNDER SUBSECTION 19(2)

I, Philip Davies, Delegate of the Minister for Health and Ageing, in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 DIRECT that Medicare benefits shall be payable in respect of professional services provided by general practitioners where the following circumstances are satisfied:

1.    The professional service is a service that:

(a)is provided to an eligible person at an Emergency Primary Medical Care Centre at a public hospital listed in Schedule A; or

(b)is provided to an eligible person at a clinic that is co-located with, or in close proximity to, a public hospital listed in Schedule A; and

(c)in relation to (a) or (b) is provided on:

(i)a week day between the hours of 6 pm and 10 pm unless otherwise agreed between the State and the Department of Health and Ageing;

(ii)a Saturday between the hours of 12 midday and 10 pm; or

(iii)a Sunday between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm.

2.    The medical practitioner providing the professional service:

(a)must be a general practitioner practising privately and not a specialist or a consultant physician;

(b)must:

(i)have a location specific identifier issued by the Commonwealth for each of the clinics specified in paragraph 1(b) in which the medical practitioner provides the professional service; and

(ii)include the location specific identifier on all Medicare accounts and referrals;

(c)must not receive payments from the State for the time spent providing the professional service for which a Medicare benefit is payable, and

(d)is entitled to receive assistance from the State, a State agency or any other sources with respect to:

(i)premises;

(ii)        staff;

(iii)        travel;

(iv)       equipment; or

(v)        any other support services.

3.    The State must continue to meet the requirements of the Australian Health Care Agreements in relation to the patient, namely:

(a)provide all eligible persons access to public hospital services free of charge, as public patients (including public hospital emergency and outpatient departments);

(b)ensure the rights of all patients to elect to be treated as either a public emergency department patient or private general practitioner patient; and

(c)provide patients with appropriate information, including the financial implications of their election, that will allow the patient to make an informed and timely decision about whether he or she wishes to be treated as a public or private patient.

This direction takes effect from the date of this direction and ceases to have effect on 30 June 2008.

Dated this   27th   day of          May            2004

[Signed by Philip Davies]

DELEGATE

OF THE MINISTER

FOR HEALTH AND AGEING

Attachment A

Rockingham Kwinana District Hospital

Elanora Drive

Cooloongup   WA   6168

PO Box 2033, Rockingham WA  6967

Royal Perth Hospital

Wellington St

Perth   WA   6000

GPO Box X2213, Perth WA 6001

Joondalup Health Campus

Shenton Ave

Joondalup   WA   6027

Fremantle Hospital and Health Service

Alma St

Fremantle   WA   6160

PO Box 480, Fremantle WA 6959