Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 11) Regulations (Amendment)

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Statutory Rules

1979 No. 14

REGULATIONS UNDER THE HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 19731

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Austral acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby ma the following Regulations under the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Dated this first day of February 1979.

ZELMAN COWEN

Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

RALPH J. HUNT

Minister of State for Health

–––––––––

HEALTH INSURANCE (VARIATION OF FEES AND MEDICAL SERVICES) (No. 11) REGULATIONS

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 11) Regulations.

Commencement

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 2 February 1979.

Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 7) Regulations— amendment of Schedule

3. The Schedule to the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 7) Regulations (being that Schedule as amended by the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations, the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 9) Regulations and the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 10) Regulations) is amended as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.


SCHEDULE

AMENDMENTS OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE (VARIATION OF FEES AND MEDICAL SERVICES) (No. 7) REGULATIONS

1. Omit item 956, substitute the following item:

“956 Arterial puncture and collection of blood for diagnostic purposes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.20

7.20

7.20

7.20

7.20

7.20”.

2. Omit item 2718, substitute the following item:

“2718 Opaque enema, including air contrast study...

52.00

53.00

48.50

48.50

48.50

48.50”.

3. Omit items 3219, 3220, 3221, 3222, 3223, 3224, 3225, 3226, 3229, 3230, 3233, 3237 and 3245, substitute the following items:

“3219 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen, not covered by item 3221, 3223, 3225, 3226, 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (G) (AU6)             

31.00

31.00

31.00

31.00

31.00

31.00

“3220 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen, not covered by item 3222, 3224, 3225, 3226, 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (S) (AU6)             

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

“3221 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 3 but not more than 10 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (G) (AU9)              )

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00

“3222 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 3 but not more than 10 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (S) (AU9)             

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

“3223 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 10 but not more than 20 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (G) (AU13)             

110.00

110.00

110.00

110.00

110.00

110.00


SCHEDULE—continued

“3224 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 10 but not more than 20 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (S) (AU13)             

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

“3225 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 20 but not more than 50 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 3332, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (AU15)             

164.00

164.00

164.00

164.00

164.00

164.00

“3226 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 50 lesions, not covered by item 3330, 333?, 3338, 3342, 3346 or 3349 (AU17)

220.00

220.00

220.00

220.00

220.00

220.00

“3229 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen, not covered by items 3230 or 3331 (D) (AU6)             

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

41.00

“3230 Tumours, cysts, ulcers or scars, up to 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane, where the removal is by surgical excision and suture or by cryosurgery using liquid nitrogen and the procedure is performed on more than 3 but not more than 10 lesions, not covered by item 3331 (D) (AU9)             

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

104.00

“3233 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, more than 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane (G) (AU6)             

45.50

45.50

41.50

41.50

41.50

41.50

“3237 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, more than 3 centimetres in diameter, removal from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane (S) (AU6)             

56.00

56.00

51.00

51.00

51.00

51.00


SCHEDULE—continued

“3245 Tumour, cyst, ulcer or scar, more than 3 centimetres in diameter, removal of from cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue or from mucous membrane (D) (AU6)             

56.00

56.00

51.00

51.00

51.00

51.00”.

4. Omit items 3330, 3331, 3332, 3338, 3342 and 3346, substitute the following items:

 

 

“3330 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal— each attendance at which the procedure is performed on not more than 5 lesions (including any associated consultation) (AU4)             

17.40

20.50

15.60

15.60

15.60

15.60

“3331 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal— each attendance at which the procedure is performed on not more than 5 lesions (including any associated consultation) (D) (AU4)             

17.40

20.50

15.60

15.60

15.60

15.60

“3332 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal-each attendance at which the procedure is performed on more than 5 but not more than 10 lesions (including any associated consultation) (AU5)             

22.50

22.50

17.40

17.40

17.40

17.40

“3338 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal-each attendance at which the procedure is performed on more than 10 but not more than 15 lesions (including any associated consultation) (AU6)             

28.00

26.50

26.50

26.50

26.50

26.50

“3342 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal— each attendance at which the procedure is performed on more than 15 but not more than 20 lesions (including any associated consultation) (AU7)             

30.00

28.00

28.00

28.00

28.00

28.00

“3346 Keratoses, warts or similar lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, cryosurgery, chemotherapy or surgical removal-each attendance at which the procedure is performed on more than 20 lesions (including any associated consultation) (AU8)             

35.50

31.00

31.00

31.00

31.00

31.00

“3349 Cutaneous neoplastic lesions, treatment by electrosurgical destruction, chemotherapy, curettage or shaving—one or more lesions (AU4)             

17.40

20.50

15.60

15.60

15.60

15.60”.


SCHEDULE—continued

5. Omit item 3532, substitute the following item:

“3532 Cystic hygroma, removal of massive lesion requiring extensive excision— with or without thoracotomy (AU11)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00”.

6. Omit item 3591, substitute the following item:

“3591 Thyroglossal cyst and fistula, removal of (AU10) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

190.00

190.00

190.00

190.00

190.00

190.00”.

7. Omit item 4191, substitute the following item:

“4191 Peritoneoscopy (AU6)...........

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00”.

8. Omit item 4427, substitute the following item:

“4427 Rectal or anal prolapse, injection into, without anaesthesia 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.40

11.40

11.40

11.40

11.40

11.40”.

9. Omit item 4473, substitute the following item:

“4473 Rectal or anal prolapse, submucosal injection for, under general anaesthesia (AU5) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27.00

27.00

27.00

27,00

27.00

27.00”.

10. Omit item 4490, substitute the following item:

“4490 Anal sphincterotomy as an independent procedure for Hirschsprung’s disease (AU6) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

85.00

85.00

85.00

85.00

85.00

85.00”.

11. Omit item 4594

12. Omit items 4611 and 4617, substitute the following items:

“4611 Pilonidal sinus or cyst or sacral sinus or cyst, excision of in a person ten years of age or over (G) (AU8)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98.00

98.00

92.00

92.00

92.00

92.00

“4617 Pilonidal sinus or cyst or sacral sinus or cyst, excision of in a person ten years of age or over (S) (AU8)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

124.00

124.00

124.00

124.00

124.00

124.00”.

13. Omit item 5973

14. Omit item 6114, substitute the following item:

“6114 Hypospadias urethral reconstruction with urinary diversion (AU11) 

 

 

240.00

 

 

 

240.00

240.00

240.00

240.00

240.00”.

15. Omit item 6208, substitute the following item:

“6208 Penis, plastic implantation of, or lengthening of by translocation of corpora, as an independent procedure (AU8)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00”.

16. Omit item 6302, substitute the following item:

“6302 Vulvectomy (simple), vulvoplasty or labioplasty (AU9) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

116.00

116.00

116.00

116.00

116.00

116.00”.

17. Omit item 6327, substitute the following item:

“6327 Vaginal reconstruction for congenital absence, gynatresia or urogenital sinus (AU18) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

225.00

225.00

 

 

225.00

225.00

225.00

225.00”.

18. After item 6766 insert the following item:

“6767 Electrolysis epilation for trichiasis, each treatment (AU6) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.40

15.20

15.20

15.20

15.20

15.20”.

19. Omit item 6984

20. After item 7182 insert the following item:

“7184 Subdural haemorrhage, tap for, each tap (AU6) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26.50

26.50

26.50

26.50

26.50

26.50”.

21. After item 7312 insert the following items:

“7314 Ventriculocisternostomy (Torkildsen’s operation) (AU15) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

“7316 Ventriculo-atrial or ventriculoperitoneal valvular shunt for hydrocephalus or other lesion (AU14)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00


SCHEDULE—continued

“7318 Ventriculo-atrial or ventriculoperitoneal valvular shunt, revision or removal of (AU12) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

156.00

 

 

156.00

156.00

156.00

156.00

156.00

“7320 Spino-ureteral, spino-peritoneal, spino-pleural or similar spinal shunt for hydrocephalus (AU13)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

“7324 Craniostenosis, operation for—single suture (AU17) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

235.00

“7326 Craniostenosis, operation for—more than one suture (AU20) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

“7328 Arachnoidal cyst, operation for (AU15) 

 

 

 

 

 

295.00”.

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

295.00

22. Omit item 8084, substitute the following item:

“8084 Knee—diagnostic arthroscopy of, not associated with a procedure performed through the arthroscope (AU5)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72.00

72.00

72.00

72.00

72.00

72.00”.

23. Omit the heading appearing after item 8330

24. Omit items 8334,8336,8338,8340,8342,8344,8346, 8348 and 8350, substitute the following items:

“8334 Talipes equinovarus, calcaneus valgus, pes planus, metatarsus varus, genu varum or genu valgam— manipulation under general anaesthesia (AU5)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80

“8336 Talipes equinovarus, calcaneus valgus, pes planus, metatarsus varus, genu varum or genu valgum— manipulation and plaster under general anaesthesia (AU6)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.00

20.00

20.Q0

20.00

20.00

20.00

“8349 Epiphysitis (Perthes’ Calve’s or Scheuermann’s) plaster for (AU5) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32.00

32.00

32.00

32.00

32.00

32.00

“8351 Epiphysitis (Sever’s, Kohler’s, Keinbock’s or Schlatter’s) plaster for (AU5) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00”.

25. Omit items 8358, 8360, 8362, 8364, 8366, 8368, 8370, 8372, 8374 and 8376

26. Before item 8378 insert the following heading:

“Division 12—Paediqtric Operations for Correction of Congenital Abnormalities”

27. Omit item 8388, substitute the following item:

“8388 Oesophagus, correction of congenital stenosis by oesophagectomy and anastomosis (AU21) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00”.

28. After item 8390 insert the following item:

“8392 Oesophageal atresia, with or without fistula, correction of (AU23) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

445.00

445.00

445.00

445.00

445.00

445.00”.

29. Omit items 8394, 8398, 8400, 8402, 8406 and 8408, substitute the following items:

“8394 Neonatal alimentary obstruction, laparotomy for, with or without resection, including reduction of volvulus (AU15)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00

310.00

“8398 Hirschsprung’s disease, rectosigmoidectomy for (AU22) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

405.00

405.00

405.00

405.00

405.00

405.00

“8400 Exomphalos or gastroschisis, operation for (AU13) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

355.00

355.00

355.00

355.00

355.00

355.00

“8402 Exomphalos or gastroschisis, operation for, by plastic flap (AU14) 

 

395.00

 

 

 

 

395.00

295.00

395.00

395.00

395.00

“8406 Ano-rectal malformation, perineal anoplasty, primary or secondary re-pair (AU10) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

130.00

“8408 Ano-rectal malformation, rectoplasty, primary or secondary repair, not covered by item 8406 (AU18)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

380.00

380.00

380.00

380.00

380.00

380.00”.


SCHEDULE—continued

30. Omit items 8412, 8414 and 8416, substitute the following items:

“8412 Urachal fistula, operation for (AU11)....

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00

“8414 Sphincter reconstruction for ectopia vesicae, ectopia cloacae or congenital incontinence (AU12)             

390.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

390.00

390.00

390.00

390.00

390.00”.

31. Omit item 8420

32. Omit items 8432 and 8434, substitute the following items:

“8432 Dermoid, periorbital or superficial nasal, excision of, (G) (AU8) 

57.00

 

 

 

 

 

57.00

57.00

57.00

57.00

57.00

“8434 Dermoid, periorbital or superficial nasal, excision of, (S) (AU8) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

73.00

73.00

73.00

73.00

73.00

73.00”.

33. Omit item 8438

 

 

 

 

 

 

34. Omit items 8446 and 8448

 

 

 

 

 

 

35. Omit item 8450, substitute the following item:

“8450 Dermo-fat or fascia graft (including transplant or muscle flap) (AU12) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00”.

36. Omit items 8458 and 8460, substitute the following items:

“8458 Angioma, cauterisation of or injection into, under general anaesthetic (AU7) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00

“8460 Angioma, cauterisation of or injection into, under general anaesthetic (D) (AU7) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00

30.00”.

37. Omit items 8496 and 8498, substitute the following items:

“8496 Indirect flap or tubed pedicle, delay of (AU8) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

76.00

76.00

76.00

76.00

76.00

76.00

“8498 Indirect flap or tubed pedicle, preparation of intermediate or final site and attachment to the site (AU10)             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00

152.00”.

38. Omit item 8526

 

 

 

 

 

 

39. Omit item 8532, substitute the following item:

“8532 Mammaplasty, dermo-fat (unilateral) (AU11) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00

290.00”.

40. Omit items 8540 and 8542, substitute the following items:

“8540 Digit, transplantation of-complete procedure (AU16) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

415.00

415.00

415.00

415.00

415.00

415.00

“8542 Neurovascular island flap, including repair of secondary defect (AU15) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00

360.00

41. Omit item 8584

 

 

 

 

 

 

42. Omit item 8606, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

“8606 Composite graft (chondrocutaneous or chondro-mucosal) to nose, ear or eyelid (AU11) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

164.00

164.00

 

164.00

164.00

164.00

164.00”.

43. Omit item 8610

 

 

 

 

 

 

44. Omit items 8618 and 8620, substitute the following items:

“8618 Lip or eyelid reconstruction using full thickness flap (Abbe or similar), first stage (AU11) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

270.00

270.00

270.00

270.00

270.00

270.00

“8620 Lip or eyelid reconstruction using full thickness flap (Abbe or similar), second stage (AU4) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

80.00

80.00

80.00

80.00

80.00

80.00”.

 

NOTE

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 1 February 1979.

 

Overview

The Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 11) Regulations 1979 were enacted to amend the fees for certain medical services and items listed under the Health Insurance Act 1973. These regulations, issued by the Governor-General with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, adjust the fees for a variety of medical procedures and services, reflecting changes in the costs associated with providing these services or updating the fees to align with current economic conditions. The policy objective of these amendments is to ensure that the Medicare Benefits Schedule remains fair and equitable for both healthcare providers and patients, while also maintaining the sustainability of the Medicare system. The regulations do not detail specific policy changes or legislative intent beyond the adjustments to fees, which are outlined in the schedule of the regulations.

Scope and Application

The Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 11) Regulations, made under the Health Insurance Act 1973, primarily apply to medical services and associated fees listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. These Regulations amend the existing fees for various medical services, impacting medical practitioners, allied health professionals, and patients across Australia. The changes, which took effect on 2 February 1979, include updated fees for services such as arterial puncture, removal of tumours, cysts, and scars, treatment of keratoses and warts, and several surgical procedures. The revised fees are applicable to all medical practitioners and health service providers who bill Medicare for these services, thereby directly affecting healthcare providers and patients who utilise these services under the Medicare system. These Regulations do not introduce any specific exclusions or exemptions but rather refine the fee structure for certain medical procedures, ensuring that the payments are updated to reflect current medical standards and costs. The scope of these Regulations is nationwide, applying uniformly across Australia, and they serve to update and maintain the financial framework for medical services funded under the Medicare scheme.

Key Provisions

The Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 11) Regulations, made under the Health Insurance Act 1973, primarily concern amendments to the fees associated with various medical services listed in the Schedule of the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 7) Regulations. The Regulations detail new fees for a range of medical procedures, including the removal of arterial puncture and collection of blood for diagnostic purposes (item 956), opaque enema procedures (item 2718), and various other surgical excisions and treatments for lesions, cysts, and tumours (items 3219-3245, 3330-3349, 3532, 3591, etc.). These changes reflect updated costs and service definitions within the medical field. These Regulations impose obligations on medical service providers and health insurance entities to adhere to the updated fee schedule when billing for the specified services. The fees listed in the Regulations are intended to be the standard charges for these services under the Medicare scheme, which means that medical practitioners and health insurers must align their billing practices with these updated fees. Failure to comply with the stipulated fees could result in financial penalties and could also be considered fraudulent behaviour under the Health Insurance Act 1973. While the specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in these Regulations, breaches of the Act generally could lead to civil or criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The Health Insurance Act 1973, in conjunction with other relevant legislation, outlines the framework within which these penalties are applied.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.