Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Specification 2021
made under paragraph 41G(b) of the
Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973
Compilation No. 4
Compilation date: 28 May 2026
Includes amendments: F2026L00631
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Specification 2021 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 28 May 2026 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).
Application, saving and transitional provisions
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
1 Name of specification
This specification is the Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Specification 2021.
4 Medicare programs
For paragraph 41G(b) of the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973, the services, benefits, programs and facilities specified in Schedule 1 are medicare programs.
Note Other medicare programs are specified in paragraph 41G(a) of the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973.
Schedule 1 Medicare programs
(section 4)
Item | Service, benefit, program or facility |
1 | Rural Other Medical Practitioners Program |
2 | MedicarePlus for Other Medical Practitioners Program |
3 | After Hours Other Medical Practitioners Program |
4 | Temporary Resident Other Medical Practitioners Program |
5 | Outer Metropolitan Other Medical Practitioners Program |
6 | Life Saving Drugs Program |
7 | Premium Free Dispensing Incentive |
8 | Prescription Shopping Program |
9 | Inborn Errors of Metabolism Program |
10 | Australian Organ Donor Register |
11 | Practice Incentives Program |
12 | Aged Care Education and Training Incentive Program |
13 | Medical Indemnity Program |
14 | Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme |
15 | Radiation Oncology Registration Program |
16 | Hearing Services Program |
17 | Disaster Health Care Assistance Scheme |
18 | Australian Health Survey |
19 | Continence Aids Payment Scheme |
20 | External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program |
21 | Stoma Appliance Scheme |
23 | Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Claim and Prior Approval Processing |
24 | Claims processing and payment under Chapter 6 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 |
25 | Lifetime Health Cover Mailout |
26 | Aged Care Gateway |
27 | Australian Immunisation Register |
28 | Workforce Incentive Program – Doctor Stream |
29 | Workforce Incentive Program – Practice Stream |
30 | Thalidomide Survivors Support Program |
31 | Australian General Practice Training Program |
32 | MyMedicare Program |
33 | Assisted Reproductive Technology Storage Program |
34 | General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) |
35 | Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) |
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Abbreviation key—Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted | orig = original |
am = amended | p = page(s) |
amdt = amendment | para = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |
C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |
ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |
cl = clause(s) | prev = previous |
cont. = continued | (prev…) = previously |
def = definition(s) | pt = Part(s) |
Dict = Dictionary | r = regulation(s)/Court rule(s) |
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | reloc = relocated |
div = Division(s) | renum = renumbered |
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | rep = repealed |
effect | rs = repealed and substituted |
gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |
LA = Legislation Act 2003 | /rule(s)/subrule(s)/order(s)/suborder(s) |
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | sch = Schedule(s) |
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |
cannot be given effect | SR = Statutory Rules |
mod = modified/modification | sub ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |
No. = Number(s) | sub div = Subdivision(s) |
Ord = Ordinance | sub pt = Subpart(s) |
| underlining = whole or part not |
| commenced or to be commenced |
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Name | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |
Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Specification 2021 | 20 Aug 2021 (F2021L01153) | 21 Aug 2021 (s 2) |
|
Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Amendment Specification 2023 | 3 May 2023 (F2023L00522) | 4 May 2023 (s 2) | — |
Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Amendment (MyMedicare) Specification 2023 | 28 Sept 2023 (F2023L01325) | 29 Sept 2023 (s 2) | — |
Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Amendment Specification 2024 | 2 Oct 2024 (F2024L01262) | 3 Oct 2024 (s 2) | — |
Human Services (Medicare) (Medicare Programs) Amendment (General Practice in Aged Care Incentive and Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program) Specification 2026 | 27 May 2026 (F2026L00631) | 28 May 2026 (s 2) |
|
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected | How affected |
s 2..................... | rep LA s 48D |
s 3..................... | rep LA s 48C |
Schedule 1 |
|
Schedule 1................ | am F2023L00522; F2023L01325; F2024L01262, F2026L00631 |