EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by Authority of the Minister for Health and Ageing
Health Insurance Act 1973
Determination for Guidelines under subsection 3AAA(2)
(PHB23/2004)
1. Subsection 3AAA(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) provides that the Minister may determine guidelines for making a decision as to whether a podiatrist is to be accredited. The Determination sets out the criteria for assessing applications for accreditation of podiatrists.
2. The purpose of Commonwealth accreditation of podiatrists is to enable private health insurance funds to offer benefits, under an applicable benefits arrangement, for hospital accommodation and nursing care costs associated with foot surgery provided by accredited podiatrists.
3. The Health Insurance (Accreditation of Podiatric Surgeons) Guidelines 2004 (‘the Guidelines’) allow existing podiatrists, persons who complete their podiatric training after the commencement of the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act 2004 and persons who completed their podiatry training overseas to apply for accreditation as a podiatric surgeon.
4. A clause-by-clause explanation of the Guidelines is set out in Attachment 1.
5. The Guidelines were made by the Minister for Health and Ageing on
22 December 2004 and commence immediately after the Health Legislation Amendment (Podiatric Surgery and Other Matters) Act 2004 commences on
13 January 2005.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE BRANCH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEING
11 JANUARY 2005
Attachment 1
DETERMINATION FOR GUIDELINES UNDER SUBSECTION 3AAA(2) OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973 (PHB23/2004)
Clause 1- Name of Guidelines
This clause names the Guidelines as the Health Insurance (Accreditation of Podiatric Surgeons) Guidelines 2004.
Clause 2 - Commencement
This clause specifies the date of commencement for the Guidelines, namely,
13 January 2005.
Clause 3 – Interpretation
This clause defines terms used in the Guidelines.
Clause 4 – Eligibility Requirements
This clause specifies the eligibility requirements to be applied when considering whether to accredit a podiatrist.
Subclause 4(1) specifies the eligibility criteria to be applied for current podiatrists. Current podiatrists must be a Fellow or eligible for Fellowship of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons (‘the College’) and have a current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory to be eligible for accreditation.
Subclause 4(2) specifies the eligibility criteria to be applied for persons who complete their podiatry training after 13 January 2005. A person seeking accreditation under subclause 4(2), must have obtained a university degree in Podiatry from an Australian university. The person must also have a current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory, Finally, the person must have completed the specified training program of the College and be a Fellow (or be eligible for Fellowship) of the College.
Subclause 4(3) specifies the eligibility criteria to be applied for persons who completed their podiatry training overseas. A person seeking accreditation under subclause 4(3), must have current podiatry registration or licence in an Australian State or Territory. In addition, the person must meet any one of the three criteria specified in paragraph 4(3)(b). The first additional criterion is that the person must satisfy the College that there is equivalence between his or her overseas podiatric surgery qualification and Fellowship of the College. Alternatively, the person may have had their overseas podiatric surgery qualification successfully evaluated by the College and have successfully completed additional subjects as directed by the College. Or finally, the person must have successfully completed training for Fellowship of the College.