EXPLANATORY STATEMENT HS/4/1999
SUBJECT: HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973
DETERMINATION UNDER SUBSECTION 3C(1) TO REMOVE BONE
DENSITOMETRY ITEM 12324 FROM THE MEDICARE BENEFITS
SCHEDULE
Subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) provides that the Minister may, by writing, determine that a health service not already included in the General Medical Table (the table) is to be
treated as if it were included in the table. Such a determination shall specify a fee in respect of the health service and shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and Regulations as if it were a health service included in the table.
The table, which is prescribed by Regulations under section 4 and section 133 of the Act, contains item numbers for, descriptions of and fees in respect of medical services which are, among other things, recognised for the purposes of the payment of Medicare benefits.
This Determination replaces Determination HS/2/1996 which is now revoked. Determination
HS/2/1996 contains seven bone densitometry items in the MBS. One of these items (item 12324) covers services provided in circumstances not included in the other six items. A nominal fee of $5.20 is set for
this item, with the intention that practitioners could appeal under Section 11 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 to have this fee increased.
The Act has now been amended, and the repeal of Section 11 took effect from 19 June 1997 with the
result that item 12324 is no longer relevant or applicable.
A new 3C Determination, which omits all reference to item 12324, has therefore been prepared to
exclude it.