AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE
HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973
Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program) Direction 2024
I, Nigel Murray, Assistant Secretary, MBS Policy and Specialist Programs Branch, Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division, Health Resourcing Group, delegate for the Minister for Health and Aged Care, acting under section 19 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) hereby:
- DIRECT that under subsection 19(2) of the Act Medicare benefits shall be payable in respect of:
- a professional service (as defined in section 3 of the Act) which has been provided in accordance with the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care (ABN: 83 605 426 759) and at an eligible service specified in subparagraph (1)(c)(iii) of this direction for which:
- item 73813 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – Point-of-Care Testing Services) Determination 2024 or item 73825 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Services) Determination 2020 relate; and
- where the professional service is provided to:
- an eligible person (as defined in section 3 of the Act) who is;
- not receiving the service as part of an episode of hospital treatment (as defined in section 121-5 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007); and
- not receiving a service which attracts a payment through the 2020-2025 Addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement for a service rendered to a public patient; and
- an eligible person (as defined in section 3 of the Act) who is;
- the professional services referred to in paragraph (1)(a) must be provided:
- by, or on behalf of, a salaried medical practitioner or participating nurse practitioner, where the professional service meets all relevant item requirements, or
- where the service is performed on behalf of a medical practitioner, by a practice nurse, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner or eligible Aboriginal health worker, where the professional service meets all relevant item requirements; and
- at an eligible service in Modified Monash 6 area or Modified Monash 7 area (as defined in Section 7.1.1 of the general medical services table) specified in Schedule A of this Direction.
- DIRECT that under subsection 19(5) of the Act Medicare benefits shall be payable in respect of:
(a) a professional service (as defined in section 3 of the Act) which has been provided in accordance with the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care (ABN: 83 605 426 759) and at an eligible service specified in subparagraph 1(c)(iii) of this Direction for which:
(i) item 73813 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – Point-of-Care Testing Services) Determination 2024 or item 73825 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Services) Determination 2020 relate; and |
(b) where the professional service meets all the requirements as set out in paragraphs (1)(b) and (1)(c) of this direction.
- DECLARE that this Direction commences on 6 November 2024 and ceases to have effect at the end of 31 October 2026 unless earlier revoked.
Note, a number of expressions used in this direction are defined in the below instruments:
- Health Insurance Act 1973: the meaning of medical practitioner, participating nurse practitioner, practice nurse and professional service;
- Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2021: the meaning of Modified Monash 6 area and Modified Monash 7 area; and
- Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Allied Health Services) Determination 2024: the meaning of eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner and eligible Aboriginal health worker.
Date: 4 November 2024
Nigel MurrayAssistant SecretaryMBS Policy and Specialist Programs BranchMedicare Benefits and Digital Health DivisionHealth Resourcing Group Department of Health and Aged Care
SCHEDULE A
Approved Aboriginal Community controlled health Services (ACCHS) for the provision of services under the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program
NEW SOUTH WALES
Service Name | Legal Entity Name | Street Address |
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation | Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation | 443 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880 |
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Service Name | Legal Entity Name | Street Address |
Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation | Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation | PMB 202, Via Alice Springs, NT 0872 |
Bulman Health Centre | Bulman Health Centre | Lot 68, Bulman (Weemol) NT 0852 |
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (CAAC) Urban | Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation | 25 Gap Road, The Gap NT 0870 |
Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island) Health Centre | Galiwin’ku Health Centre | Lot 600 Burmala Rd, Galiwin’ku NT 0822 |
Gapuwiyak Clinic | Gapuwiyak Clinic | Lot 96, 1 Babawuynagumi St, Gapuwiyak NT 0880 |
Kalkaringi Health Centre | Kalkaringi Health Centre | Lot 125, Libanangu Street, Kalkaringi NT 0852 |
Lajamanu Health Centre | Lajamanu Health Centre | Lot 446 Lajamanu Street, Lajamanu NT 0852 |
Mala'la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | Mala'la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | Lot 480 Maningrida Community, Maningrida NT 0822 |
Malmaldharra (Millingimbi) Health Centre | Malmaldharra Health Centre | Lot 37 Madumungun Road, Milingimbi NT 0822 |
Sunrise Minyerri Health Centre | Minyerri Health Centre
| Lot 3, Minyerri NT 0852 |
Sunrise Ngukurr Health Centre | Ngukurr Health Centre | Lot 332, Ngukurr Road, Ngukurr NT 0852 |
Pintupi Homelands Health Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | Pintupi Homelands Health Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | 194 Kintore Road Kintore NT 0872 |
Ramingining Clinic
| Ramingining Clinic
| Lot 19, 17 Milbrim Road, Ramingining NT 0822 |
Timber Creek Health Centre
| Timber Creek Health Centre
| Lot 93 Wilson St, Timber Creek NT 0852 |
Urapuntja Health Service | Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | Amengernternenh (Utopia) Sandover Highway, Sandover, NT 0872 |
Yarralin Health Centre | Yarralin Health Centre | Lot 53, Yarralin NT 0852 |
Congress Yulara Clinic | Yulara Health Centre | Lot 233 Yulara Drive, Yulara NT 0872 |
QUEENSLAND
Service Name | Legal Entity Name | Street Address |
Child and Family Centre (aka Bwgcolman Healing Service) | Bwgcolman Healing Clinic
| 4 Main Street, Palm Island Qld 4816 |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Service Name | Legal Entity Name | Street Address |
Amata Clinic | Amata Clinic | 9-11 Ngari Place, Amata SA 0872 |
Ernabella (Pukatja) Clinic | Pukatja Clinic | 1 Main Street Ernabella (Pukatja) SA 0872 |
Fergon Clinic | Fergon Clinic | 1 Main Street, KALTJITI, SA 0872 |
Indulkana (Iwantja) Clinic | Indulkana Clinic | Maku Street, Indulkana SA 5724 |
Mimili clinic | Mimili clinic | Mimili Community, Mimili SA 0872 |
Oak Valley (Maralinga) Aboriginal Corporation | Oak Valley (Maralinga) Aboriginal Corporation | 43 McKenzie Street, Ceduna SA 5690 |
Pipalyatjara Clinic | Pipalyatjara Clinic | 3-5 Ilykuwara Street, Pipalytjara SA 0872 |
Tullawon Health Service Incorporated | Tullawon Health Service Incorporated | 303 Tullawon Square, Yalata SA 5690 |
Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation Inc | Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation Inc | Lot 8, Umoona Road, Coober Pedy SA 5723 |
Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation | Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation | 1 Eyre Highway, Ceduna SA 5690 |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Service Name | Legal Entity Name | Street Address |
Balgo (Wirrimanu) Health Centre | Balgo Clinic | 1 Tanami Road, Balgo WA 6770 |
Beagle Bay Clinic | Beagle Bay Clinic | 53c Felix Avenue, Dampier Peninsula WA 6725 |
Bidyadanga Clinic | Bidyadanga Clinic | Lot 86 Wangkaja Road, Bidyadanga Community (Lagrange) WA 6725 |
Bililuna Clinic | Bililuna Clinic | Billiluna Community, Halls Creek WA 6770 |
Blackstone Clinic | Blackstone Clinic | Blackstone Community, Blackstone WA 0872 |
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | 2 Dora Street, Broome WA 6725 |
Carnarvon Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service) | Carnarvon Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation | 14-16 Rusthon Street, Carnarvon WA 6701 |
Derby Aboriginal Health Service Council Aboriginal Corporation | Derby Aboriginal Health Service Council Aboriginal Corporation | 1 Stanley Street, Derby WA 6728 |
Jigalong Clinic (Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service) | Jigalong Clinic | Jigalong Community, Corner of Walyagunya Boulevard & Daisy Street, Newman WA 6753 |
Kiwirrkurra Clinic | Kiwirrkurra Clinic | Gibson Desert North WA 0872 |
Mawarnkarra Health Service | Mawarnkarra Health Service | 20 Sholl Street, Roebourne WA 6718 |
Murchison Outreach Service (Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service) | Murchison Outreach Service | 56 Attwood Street, Mount Magnet WA 6638 |
Newman Clinic (Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service) | Newman Clinic | 65 Mindarra Drive, Newman WA 6753 |
Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Medical Services (NAHS) | Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Medical Services Aboriginal Corporation | 44 Scotia Street, Wiluna WA 6646 |
Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (OVAHS) | Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | 1125 Ironwood Drive, Kununurra WA 6743 |
Tjuntjuntjara Clinic | Tjuntjuntjara Clinic | Tjuntjuntjara Community, Tjuntjuntjara WA 6436 |
Warakurna Clinic | Warakurna Clinic | Warakurna Community, Warakurna WA 6642 |
Warburton Clinic | Warburton Clinic | Warburton Community, Warburton WA 6431 |
Wingellina Clinic | Wingellina Clinic | Wingellina Community, Ngaanyatjarra-Giles WA 0872 |
Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | 17 Hamilton Road, South Hedland WA 6722 |
Yura Yungi Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation | Yura Yungi Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation | 342 Duncan Road, Halls Creek WA 6770 |
Approved ABORIGINAL MEDICAL SERVICES (AMS) for the provision of services under the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Service Location | Practice Name | Street Address |
Barkly District | Ali-Curung / Alekarenge (Warrabri) Community Health Centre | Lot 159, Ali-Curung NT 0861 |
Top End Health Service | Oenpelli (Gunbalanya) Community Health Centre | Lot 503, Oenpelli NT 0822 |
QUEENSLAND
Service Location | Practice Name | Street Address |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Aurukun Health Service | Kang Kang Road, Aurukun QLD 4892 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Bamaga Primary Health Care Centre | 175 Adidi Street, Bamaga QLD 4876 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Kowanyama Primary Health Care Centre | Carrington Street, Kowanyama QLD 4892 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Lockhart River Primary Health Care Centre | Lockhart River QLD 4892 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Pormpuraaw Primary Health Care Centre | 8 Korka Street, Pormpuraaw QLD 4892 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Saibai Island Primary Health Care Centre | Saibai Island QLD 4875 |
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service | Sibuwani Ngurpai Meta (Thursday Island Primary Health Care Centre) | 74 Douglas Street, Thursday Island QLD 4875 |
North West Hospital and Health Service | Cloncurry Hospital | Musgrave Street, Cloncurry QLD 4824 |
North West Hospital and Health Service | Doomadgee Rural Hospital | Sharpe Street, Doomadgee QLD 4830 |
North West Hospital and Health Service | Mornington Island Hospital | Lardyl Street, Mornington Island QLD 4871 |
North West Hospital and Health Service | Normanton Hospital | Hospital Road, Normanton QLD 4890 |
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Service Location | Practice Name | Street Address |
Western Australia Country Health Service | Fitzroy Crossing Hospital | Fallon Road, Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765 |