National
Health
No.
85 of 1971
An Act relating to the Provision of
Nursing Home and Pharmaceutical Benefits and Medical Services.
[Assented to 20 October 1971]
BE it enacted by the
Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of
the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and
citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the National Health Act 1971.
(2.) The National Health Act 1953–1970
is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the National Health Act 1953–1971.
Commencement.
2.—(1.) Except as provided otherwise, this Act shall
come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(2.) Section 3 of this Act shall come into operation on the day after
the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
(3.) Sections 4, 5, 6 and 11 of this Act shall come into operation on a
date to be fixed by Proclamation.
Benefit payable
in respect of nursing home care.
3. Section 56 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from
subsection (1.) the words “Two dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Three
dollars fifty cents”.
Interpretation.
4. Section 84 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a)by inserting after the definition of “brand” in sub-section (1.) the
following definition:—
“‘dependant’, in
relation to a subsidized beneficiary, means—
(a)if the subsidized beneficiary is married and is not living permanently
apart from his or her spouse—that spouse;
(b)a person who is living with the subsidized beneficiary (not being a person
to whom the subsidized beneficiary is legally married) as the spouse of the
subsidized beneficiary on a permanent and bona
fide domestic basis;
(c) a
child under the age of 16 years in the custody, care and control of—
(i) the
subsidized beneficiary;
(ii) the
spouse of the subsidized beneficiary; or
(iii) a
person who is living with the subsidized beneficiary (not being a person to
whom the subsidized beneficiary is legally married) as the spouse of the
subsidized beneficiary on a permanent and bona
fide domestic basis; or
(d)a child in the custody, care and control of a person referred to in a
sub-paragraph of the last preceding paragraph, being a child who—
(i) has
attained the age of 16 years but is under the age of 21 years;
(ii) is
receiving full-time education at a school, college or university;
(iii) is
wholly or substantially dependent on the person in whose custody, care and
control the child is; and
(iv) is
not in receipt of an invalid pension under Part III. of the Social Services Act 1947–1971;”;
(b)by inserting after the definition of “refund agreement” in sub-section (1.)
the following definition:—
“‘the
appropriate maximum amount’, in relation to a prescription (other than a
prescription that is marked, in accordance with the regulations, as a
prescription in respect of a pensioner), means—
(a)where the prescription is marked, in accordance with the regulations, as a
prescription in respect of a subsidized beneficiary—an amount of Fifty cents;
or
(b) in any other case—an amount of One dollar.”; and
(c) by inserting after sub-section (1.) the following sub-section:—
“(1aa.)
For the purposes of this Part—
(a) a person shall be deemed to be a
subsidized beneficiary during any of the following periods:—
(i) a
period in respect of which benefit was paid or is payable to him under Part
VII. of the Social Services Act 1947–1971,
being a period commencing on or after the date of commencement of this
sub-section;
(ii)
unless the period referred to in the last preceding sub-paragraph ended by
reason of the cancellation, under section one hundred and twenty or section one
hundred and twenty-one of that Act, of the payment of the benefit—the period of
four weeks that immediately follows that period;
(b)a person shall be deemed to be a subsidized beneficiary during any period
in. relation to which a determination under section eighty-two u or section eighty-two zc of this Act is in force in respect of
the person, being a period commencing on or after the date of commencement of
this sub-section;
(c) an immigrant who is the holder of an
entry permit, not being a temporary entry permit, in force under the Migration Act 1958–1966 shall—
(i) if he
first entered Australia on or after the date of commencement of this
sub-section, be deemed to be a subsidized beneficiary during the period of two
months after that first entry; or
(ii) if
he first entered Australia on a date less than two months before the date of
commencement of this sub-section, be deemed to be a subsidized beneficiary
during that part of the period of two months after that first entry that
commences on the date of commencement of this sub-section; and
(d)a dependant of a subsidized beneficiary shall be deemed to be a subsidized
beneficiary.”.
Limited charges
for pharmaceutical benefits.
5. Section 87 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the words “Fifty
cents” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “the
appropriate maximum amount”.
Payment for
supply of benefits.
6. Section 99 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from
sub-section (2a.) the words “Fifty
cents” (wherever occurring) and inserting in their stead the words “the
appropriate maximum amount”.
Amendments of
the Schedules having effect from 1 April, 1971.
7.—(1.) The Schedules to the Principal Act are amended
as set out in the First Schedule to this Act.
(2.) The amendments made by this section shall be deemed to have come
into operation on the first day of April, One thousand nine hundred and
seventy-one.
Amendments of
the Schedules having effect from 1 July, 1971.
8.—(1.) The Schedules to the Principal Act, as amended
in accordance with the last preceding section, are amended as set out in the
Second Schedule to this Act.
(2.) The amendments made by this section shall be deemed to have come
into operation on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and
seventy-one.
Repeal of
Statutory Rules.
9. The National Health (Variation of Benefits) (No. 1) Regulations
(being Statutory Rules 1971, No. 43) and the National Health (Variation of Benefits)
(No. 2) Regulations (being Statutory Rules 1971, No. 75) are repealed.
Regulations may
be made before the commencement of amendments.
10. At any time after this Act receives the Royal Assent and before the
date of commencement of section 4 of this Act, regulations may be made for the
purposes of the definition of “the appropriate maximum amount” in section 84 of
the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, as if that first-mentioned section
had come into operation, but regulations so made shall not come into operation
before the date of commencement of that first-mentioned section.
Application of
amendments made by sections 4, 5 and 6.
11. The amendments made by section 4, 5 and 6 of this Act apply in
relation to the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit on or after the date of
commencement of those sections.
THE SCHEDULES
FIRST
SCHEDULE Section
7 (1.).
AMENDMENTS OF THE TABLE IN THE
FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit from item 37 “paralysis”, insert “or circulatory failure”.
2. Omit from item 451 “Major”, insert “Initial major”.
3. Insert each of the following items in the appropriate place in the
table having regard to the number of the item:—
“452 | Subsequent major
regional or field block, including abdominal; brachial plexus; caudal;
cervical plexus; epidural (peridural); paravertebral (thoracic or lumbar);
pudendal; sacral; spinal...................................................................................................
| 5.40” |
“868 | Intralymphatic
insertion of needle or cannula for the purpose of introduction of
radio-active material................................................................................................
| 11.40” |
“965 | Oesophageal motility
test, manometric........................................................
| 7.20”. |
4. Omit
from item 1957 “9.00”, insert “12.60”.
5. Omit from item 1963 “4.50”, insert “5.10”.
6. Omit from item 1967 “6.90”, insert “8.10”.
7. Omit from item 1971 “10.20”, insert “11.40”.
8. After item 1975, insert the following item:—
“1976 | Scan of liver and spleen.......................................................................... | 19.20”. |
9. Omit from item 1977 “7.20”, insert “9.00”.
10. After item 1979, insert the following item:—
“1980 | Renal
scan and differential renal scan........................................................ | 15 00”. |
11. Omit from item 1981 “7.20”, insert “9.00”.
12. Omit from item 2460 “2.40”, insert “3.60”.
13. Omit from item 2464 “3.60”, insert “3.90”.
14. Omit from item 3055 “10.50”, insert “12.60”.
15. Insert each of the following items in the appropriate place in the
table, being a place before the heading that follows item 4040, having regard
to the number of the item:—
“3823 | Haemorrhoids, rubber
band ligation of.....................................................
| 4.50” |
“4034 | Transluminal
angioplasty including associated radiological services and preparation
| 45.00” |
“4042 | Arteriovenous shunt,
external, removal of................................................
| 18.60” |
“4044 | Arteriovenous
anastomosis, direct, of upper or lower limb........................
| 69.00” |
16. After item 4355, insert the following item:—
“4356 | Glomus tumour, transtympanic
excision of............................................... | 87.00”. |
17. Insert in item 5842, after “operation for”, “,not covered by item
5846”.
18. Omit from item 5846 “42.00”, insert “69.00”.
19. Omit from item 5989 “78.00”, insert “96.00”.
20. Omit from items 7224 and 7225 “phalanx, metacarpal or metatarsal”,
insert “phalanx or metatarsal”.
21. After item 7225, insert the following item:—
“7226 | Hallux valgus,
correction of, with osteotomy or osteectomy of phalanx or metatarsal and
transplantation of adductor hallucis tendon..........................................
| 72.00”. |
First Schedule—continued
AMENDMENTS
OF THE TABLE IN THE SECOND SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the Principal
Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957...........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963...........................................
| 3.40
| 2.50”
|
“1967...........................................
| 5.40|
| 3.00”
|
“1971...........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977...........................................
| 6.00
| 3.00”
|
“1981...........................................
| 6.00
| 3.00”
|
“2460...........................................
| 2.40
| 1.50”
|
“2464...........................................
| 2.60
| 1.50”
|
“3055...........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5846...........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989...........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”
|
2. Insert
each of the following items in the appropriate place in the table having regard
to the number specified in the first column:—
“452.............................................
| 3.60
| 2.50”
|
“868.............................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“965.............................................
| 4.80
| 3.00”
|
“1976...........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980...........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823...........................................
| 3.00
| 2.50”
|
“4034...........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042...........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044...........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“4356...........................................
| 58.00
| 5.00”
|
“7226...........................................
| 48.00
| 5.00”.
|
AMENDMENTS
OF THE TABLE IN THE THIRD SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the Principal
Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963..........................................
| 4.40
| 1.50”
|
“1967..........................................
| 6.40
| 2.00”
|
“1971..........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“1981..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“2460..........................................
| 2.40
| 1.00”
|
“2464..........................................
| 3.10
| 1.00”
|
“3055..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5846..........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989..........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”
|
First Schedule—continued
2. Insert each of the following items in the appropriate place in the
table having regard to the number specified in the first column:—
“452...........................................
| 3.10
| 1.50”
|
“868...........................................
| 7.60|
| 3.00”
|
“965...........................................
| 5.80
| 2.00”
|
“1976.........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980.........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823.........................................
| 4.00
| 1.50”
|
“4034.........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042.........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044.........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“4356.........................................
| 58.00
| 5.00”
|
“7226.........................................
| 38.00
| 5.00”
|
AMENDMENTS OF THE TABLE
IN THE FOURTH SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the Principal
Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963..........................................
| 4.40
| 1.50”
|
“1967..........................................
| 6.40
| 2.00”
|
“1971..........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“1981..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“2460..........................................
| 2.40
| 1.00”
|
“2464..........................................
| 3.10
| 1.00”
|
“3055..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5846..........................................
| 31.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989..........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”
|
2. Insert
each of the following items in the appropriate place in the table having regard
to the number specified in the first column:—
“452............................................
| 4.10
| 1.50”
|
“868............................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“965............................................
| 5.80
| 2.00”
|
“1976..........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980..........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823..........................................
| 4.00
| 1.50”
|
“4034..........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042..........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044..........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“4356..........................................
| 58.00
| 5.00”
|
“7226..........................................
| 25.50
| 5.00”
|
First Schedule—continued
AMENDMENTS
OF THE TABLE IN THE FIFTH SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the Principal
Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963..........................................
| 4.40
| 1.50”
|
“1967..........................................
| 6.40
| 2.00”
|
“1971..........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“1981..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“2460..........................................
| 1.90
| 1.00”
|
“2464..........................................
| 3.10
| 1.00”
|
“3055..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5846..........................................
| 16.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989..........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”
|
2. Insert
each of the following items in the appropriate place in the table having regard
to the number specified in the first column:—
“452...........................................
| 3.10
| 1.50”
|
“868...........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“965...........................................
| 5.80
| 2.00”
|
“1976.........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980.........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823.........................................
| 4.00
| 1.50”
|
“4034.........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042.........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044.........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“4356.........................................
| 58.00
| 5.00”
|
“7226.........................................
| 23.00
| 5.00”
|
AMENDMENTS
OF THE TABLE IN THE SIXTH SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the Principal
Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963..........................................
| 4.40
| 1.50”
|
“1967..........................................
| 6.40
| 2.00”
|
“1971..........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“1981..........................................
| 7.00
| 2.00”
|
“2460..........................................
| 1.90
| 1.00”
|
“2464..........................................
| 3.10
| 1.00”
|
“3055..........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5846..........................................
| 31.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989..........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”
|
First Schedule—continued
2. Insert
each of the following items in the appropriate place in the table having regard
to the number specified in the first column of the item:—
“452............................................
| 3.10
| 1.50”
|
“868............................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“965............................................
| 5.80
| 2.00”
|
“1976..........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980..........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823..........................................
| 4.00
| 1.50”
|
“4034..........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042..........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044..........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“4356..........................................
| 58.00
| 5.00”
|
“7226..........................................
| 28.00
| 5.00”.
|
AMENDMENTS
OF THE TABLE IN THE SEVENTH SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ACT
1. Omit the items relating to items 1957, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1977,
1981, 2460, 2464, 3055, 5505, 5507, 5846 and 5989 in the First Schedule to the
Principal Act, insert the following items, respectively:—
“1957...........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“1963...........................................
| 4.40
| 1.50”
|
“1967...........................................
| 6.40
| 2.00”
|
“1971...........................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“1977...........................................
| 7;00
| 2.00”
|
“1981...........................................
| 7.00|
| 2.00”
|
“2460...........................................
| 1.90
| 1.00”
|
“2464...........................................
| 3.10
| 1.00”
|
“3055...........................................
| 8.40
| 3.00”
|
“5505...........................................
| 34.00
| 5.00”
|
“5507...........................................
| 46.00
| 5.00”
|
“5846...........................................
| 16.00
| 5.00”
|
“5989...........................................
| 64.00
| 5.00”.
|
2. Insert each of the following items in the appropriate place in the
table having regard to the number specified in the first column of the item:—
“452.............................................
| 2.60
| 1.00”
|
“868.............................................
| 7.60
| 3.00”
|
“965.............................................
| 5.80
| 2.00”
|
“1976...........................................
| 12.80
| 4.00”
|
“1980...........................................
| 10.00
| 3.00”
|
“3823...........................................
| 4.00
| 1.50”
|
“4034...........................................
| 30.00
| 5.00”
|
“4042...........................................
| 12.40
| 4.00”
|
“4044...........................................
|