Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations

Legislation au C1978L00096 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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Statutory Rules

1978 No. 96

REGULATIONS UNDER THE HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973*

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

Dated this twenty-seventh day of June 1978.

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. 8) REGULATIONS

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations.

Commencement

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 1 July 1978.

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 is amended as set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

 

* Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 29 June 1978.


SCHEDULE

AMENDMENTS OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE

(VARIATION OF FEES AND MEDICAL SERVICES) (No. 7) REGULATIONS

1. Omit items 190 and 192, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

“ 190 Antenatal care (not including any service or services covered by item 200 or 207 or by any item in Division 2) where the attendances do not exceed 10—each attendance              

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 192 Antenatal care (not including any service or services covered, by item 200 or 207 or by any item in Division 2) where the attendances exceed 10              

89.00

83.00

79.00

79.00

79.00

83.00 ”.

2. Omit items 242 and 246, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

 

“ 242 Treatment of habitual miscarriage by injection of hormones— each injection up to a maximum of 12 injections              

6.50

6.10

6.50

6.10

6.10

6.10

“ 246 Threatened abortion, threatened miscarriage or hyperemesis gravidarum, requiring admission to hospital, treatment of—each attendance              

6.50

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10 ”.

3. Omit item 273, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 273 Pre eclampsia, eclampsia or antepartum haemorrhage, treatment of— each attendance  

6.50

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10

6.10 ”.

4. After item 752, insert the following items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

“ 755 Nerve block with local anaesthetic agent of the coeliac plexus, the lumbar sympathetic chain, the thoracic sympathetic chain, the glossopharyngeal nerve or the obturator nerve, with or without X-ray control              

44.50

44.00

44.00

43.00

43.00

39.00

“ 756 Nerve block with alcohol, phenol or other neurolytic agent of the coeliac plexus, the splanchnic nerves, the him bar sympathetic chain, the thoracic, sympathetic chain or a cranial nerve (other than the trigeminal nerve) or an epidural or caudal block with or without X-ray control, localization by electrical stimulator or preliminary block with local anaesthetic              

50.00

49.50

49.50

48.50

48.50

44.00 ”.

5. Omit item 816, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 816 Investigation of cortical evoked responses— 1 or 2 studies  

37.00

37.00

37.00

37.00

37.00

37.00

“ 817 Investigation of cortical evoked responses—3 or more studies  

55.00

55.00

55.00

55.00

55.00

55.00 ”.

6. Omit item 824, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 824 Haemodialysis in hospital (stabilized maintenance dialysis for chronic renal failure where a separate account for an attendance is not rendered under Part I)             

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00 ”.

7. Omit items 940 and 944, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

 

“ 940 Administration of blood including collection from donor  

39.00

39.00

39.00

39.00

39.00

39.00


SCHEDULE—continued

“ 944 Administration of blood already collected  

27.00

27 00

27.00

27.00

27.00

27.00 ”.

8. Omit item 949, substitute the following item:

“ 949 Collection of blood for purposes of transfusion  

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80

15.80 ”.

9. After item 2676, insert the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

 

“ 2678 Intravenous pyelography, including preliminary plain film and limited tomography involving up to three tomographic cuts             

73.00

73.00

70.00

70.00

70.00

70.00 ”.

10. Omit item 2687, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 2687 Antegrade or retrograde pyelography including preliminary plain film  

48.50

48.50

46.50

46.50

46.50

46.50 ”.

11. Omit items 2714 and 2736, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

“ 2734 Radiographic examination of both breasts (with or without thermography) and report where the patient is referred with a specific request for this procedure and there is reason to suspect the presence of malignancy in the breasts because of the past occurrence of breast malignancy in the patient or members of the patient's family or because symptoms or indications of malignancy were found or. an examination of the patient by a medical practitioner (S)              

39.00

39.00

39.06

39.00

39.00

39.00

“ 2736 Radiographic examination of one breast (with or without thermography) and report where the patient is referred with a specific request for this procedure and there is reason to suspect the presence of malignancy in the breast because of the past occurrence of breast malignancy in the patient or members of the patient's family or because symptoms or indications of malignancy were found on an examination of the patient by a medical practitioner (S)              

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00

23.00 ”.

12. Omit item 2831, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 2831 Percutaneous injection of radio-opaque material into the renal pelvis or into a renal cyst (including aspiration of the cyst) for antegrade pyelography             

29.50

29.50

29.50

29.50

29.30

29.50 ”.

13. Omit item 3006, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 3006 Dressing of localized burns (not involving grafting)—each, attendance at which the procedure is performed              

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30 ”.

 


SCHEDULE—continued

14. After item 3718, insert the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 3722 Laparotomy involving caecostomy, enterostomy, colostomy, enterotomy, colotomy, gastrostomy (not being a gastrostomy covered by item 3870), reduction of intussusception, removal of Meckel's diverticulum, division of peritoneal adhesions (where no other listed intra-abdominal procedure is performed), suture of performed peptic nicer, simple repair of ruptured viscus or reduction of volvulus (A.U 11)              

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00

174.00 ”.

15. Omit items 3724 and 3733.

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. Omit items 3739 and. 3745, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

“ 3739 Laparotomy involving operation on abdominal viscera, not covered by any other item in this Part (G) (AU12)              

166.00

166.00

166.00

166.00

166.00

166.00

“ 3745 Laparotomy involving operation on abdominal viscera, not covered by any other item in this Part (S) (AU12)              

205.00

205.00

205.00

205.00

205.00

205.00 ”.

17, Omit item 3789, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 3789 Operative cholegram or pancreatogram or choledochoscopy (AU 10)  

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00

60.00 ”.

18. Omit item 3855, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 3855 Duodenoscopy with biopsy or gastroscopy with any or all of biopsy, polypectomy or removal of foreign body (AU 7)              

78.00

78.00

78.00

78.00

78.00

78.00 ”.

19. Omit item 3860, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 3860 Endoscopic pancreatocholangiography, or endoscopic sphincterotomy with extraction of stones from common bile duct (AU 8)

120.00

120.00

120.00

120.00

120.00

120.00 ”

20. Omit items 3864, 3910 and 3916.

 

 

 

 

 

 

21. Omit items 3958, 3962, 3965, 3968 and 3970.

 

 

 

 

 

22. Omit items 3990, 3996 and 4000.

 

 

 

 

 

23. Omit item 4009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

24. Omit items 4020, 4021, 4027 and 4032.

 

 

 

 

 

 

25. Omit item 4084, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 4064 Appendectomy, when performed in conjunction with any other intra-abdominal procedure and through the same incision (AU 5)             

40.50

40.50

40.50

40.50

40.50

40.50 ”.

26. Omit items 4149 and 4158.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27. Omit item 4676, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 4676 Ligation of medium artery, medium vein or medium artery and medium vein by ejective. operation (including repair of artificial arterio-venous fistula) (AU 6)

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00

82.00 ”.

28. Omit item 5172, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

5172 Middle ear, insertion of tube for drainage of (including myringotomy) (AU 7) 

78.00

71.00

56.00

56.00

56.00

56.00 ”.

 


SCHEDULE—continued

29. Omit item 5642, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 5642 Renal transplant, not covered by items 5644 and 5645 (AU 24)  

480.00

480.00

480.00

480.00

480.00

480.00

“ 5644 Renal transplant, performed by vascular surgeon and urologist operating together—vascular anastomosis including aftercare (AU 24)              

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

325.00

“ 5645 Renal transplant, performed by vascular surgeon and urologist operating together—uretero-vesical anastomosis including after-care              

275.00

275.00

275.00

275.00

275.00

275.00 ”.

30. Omit item 6816, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 6816 Cornea or sclera, removal of superficial foreign body from (excluding after-care) (AU 6)  

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30 ”.

31. Omit item 7068, substitute the following item;

 

 

 

 

 

“ 7068 Local infiltration around nerve or in muscle with alcohol, novocaine or similar preparation—each attendance at which an injection is given              

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30 ”.

32. Omit items 7072 and 7075.

 

 

 

 

 

 

33. Omit items 7601 and 7605, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

“ 7601 One or more ribs —each attendance (G) (AU 7)  

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 7605 One or more ribs—each attendance (S) (AU 7)  

13.00

12.40

12.40

12.40

12.40

11.00 ”.

34. Omit items 7694, 7697, 7701 and 7706, substitute the following items:

 

 

“ 7694 Skull, not requiring operation— each attendance (G)  

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 7697 Skull, not requiring operation— each attendance (S)  

13.00

12.40

12.40

12.40

12.40

11.00

“ 7701 Nasal bones, not requiring reduction—each attendance (G) ..

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 7706 Nasal bones, not requiring reduction—each attendance (S)  

13.00

12.40

12.40

12.40

12.40

11.00 ”.

35. Omit items 7774, 7777, 7781 and 7785, substitute the following items:

 

 

“ 7774 Spine (excluding sacrum), transverse process or bone other than vertebral body, not requiring immobilization in plaster—each attendance (G)              

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 7777 Spine (excluding sacrum), transverse process or bone other than vertebral body, not requiring immobilization in plaster—each attendance (S)              

13.00

12.40

12.40

12.40

12.40

11.00

“ 7781 Spine (excluding sacrum), vertebral body, without involvement of cord, not requiring immobilization in plaster—each attendance (G) .. .. ..

8.90

8.30

7.90

7.90

7.90

8.30

“ 7785 Spine (excluding sacrum), vertebral body, without involvement of cord, not requiring immobilisation in plaster—each attendance (S)              

13.00

12.40

12.40

12.40

12.40

11.00 ”.

 


SCHEDULE—continued

36. Omit items 7938 acid 7939, substitute the following items:

 

 

 

“ 7938 Spinal fusion for scoliosis or kyphosis by use of Harrington distraction rod or by anterior correction (Dwyer procedure) of not more than four spaces (AU 23)             

620.00

620.00

620.00

620.00

620.00

620.00

“ 7939 Spinal fusion for scoliosis or kyphosis by use of Harrington distraction rod and compression rod or by anterior correction. (Dwyer procedure) of more than four spaces (At) 29)             

785.00

785.00

785.00

785.00

785.00

785.00 ”.

37. Omit item 8069, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 8069 Joint— arthroplasty, total replacement of hip (McKee-Farrer, Charnley or similar procedure), knee, elbow, shoulder or ankle (AU 17)              

495.00

495.00

495.00

495.00

495.00

495.00 ”

38. Omit item 8076.

 

 

 

 

 

 

39. Omit item 8103.

 

 

 

 

 

 

40. Omit item 8131, substitute the following item:

 

 

 

 

 

“ 8131 Hallux valgus, correction of with osteotomy or osteectomy of phalanx or metatarsal, or total replacement of first metatarsophalangeal joint (AU 7)              

169.50

169.50

151.50

151.50

155.50

151.50 ”.

25260/78-10

Overview

The Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations were enacted in 1978 to amend the existing Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) Regulations under the Health Insurance Act 1973. The primary aim of these Regulations is to update the fees for certain medical services listed in the Schedule of the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 7) Regulations. The Regulations were made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, and came into effect on 1 July 1978. The policy objective behind these amendments is to ensure that the fees for medical services remain current and reflective of the costs associated with providing these services, thereby maintaining the integrity and sustainability of the health insurance system in Australia.

Scope and Application

The Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations 1978, made under the Health Insurance Act 1973, primarily apply to medical services and associated fees for services covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). These regulations are applicable across the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the fees that medical practitioners can charge for services provided to patients with health insurance, specifically Medicare. The Act and its subsequent regulations affect medical practitioners, health service providers, and patients who are eligible for Medicare benefits. These regulations do not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions, but the nature of the MBS implies that not all medical services or providers may be covered. The scope of the Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, allowing for the periodic review and adjustment of fees and the inclusion or exclusion of specific medical services. The application of these regulations is comprehensive, influencing the reimbursement process for a wide range of medical procedures and treatments provided under the Medicare scheme.

Key Provisions

These Regulations, titled Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 8) Regulations, are made under the Health Insurance Act 1973 and amend the fees for various medical services listed in the Schedule of the Health Insurance (Variation of Fees and Medical Services) (No. 7) Regulations (sections 1 and 3). These Regulations come into effect on 1 July 1978 (section 2). The fees for various medical services, including antenatal care, treatment of habitual miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or antepartum haemorrhage, and others, are updated (Schedule items 1 to 13). New medical services such as nerve block with local anaesthetic agents and investigation of cortical evoked responses are added, with their respective fees (Schedule items 14 to 15). Certain medical services are omitted from the Schedule (Schedule items 16 to 40). The parties or entities governed by these Regulations, primarily medical service providers and health insurers, must comply with the updated fees for the listed medical services. These fees are to be applied to claims made under the Health Insurance Act 1973 for the services specified in the amended Schedule. The Regulations provide a clear framework for determining the costs associated with these medical services and ensure consistency in billing and reimbursement processes (section 3). While these Regulations themselves do not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, breaches of the Health Insurance Act 1973 or associated regulations could result in civil or criminal penalties. Such breaches may include inaccurate billing, overcharging, or undercharging for medical services not in accordance with the Regulations. The specific penalties for these breaches would be determined under the Health Insurance Act 1973 or relevant legislation, which could include fines or other sanctions. It is essential for medical service providers and health insurers to adhere to these Regulations to avoid potential legal repercussions.

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