Health Insurance (1997-98 Pathology Services Table) Regulations (Amendment) 1998 No. 203
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1998 No. 203
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Health and Family Services
Health Insurance Act 1973
Health Insurance (1997-98 Pathology Services Table) Regulations (Amendment)
Section 133 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters for the purposes of the Act.
Section 9 of the Act provides that Medicare benefits shall be calculated by reference to the fees for medical services (including pathology services) set out in the table.
Section 4A of the Act provides that a table of pathology services may be prescribed. The Health Insurance (1997-98 Pathology Services Table) Regulations prescribe such a table.
The regulations amend the Health Insurance (1997-98 Pathology Services Table) Regulations by including four new items and their respective schedule fees, and three new Rules for the Interpretation of the Pathology Services Table. Two of the new items are for HIV viral RNA load testing,- one item is for Hepatitis C viral RNA testing in specifically defined circumstances, and the remaining item is for testing for Haemochromatosis.
The three new tests were developed.. through the Pathology Services Table Committee and in consultation with key stakeholders. following the Australian Health Technology Advisory Committee (AHTAC) assessment of the evidence on nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing.
The AHTAC recommendations on NAA testing confirmed there is a clinical need for this type of testing in HIV, Hepatitis C and Haemochromatosis, NAA testing is recognised is standard international clinical practice in these areas and has now become accepted as an integral part of current clinical best practice.
The Regulations commenced on 1 July 1998.