EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953
NATIONAL HEALTH (REMOTE ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AMENDMENT INSTRUMENT 2014 (NO. 1)
PB 50 of 2014
Authority
Subsection 100(1) of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) enables the Minister to make special arrangements for the supply of pharmaceutical benefits. Subsection 100(2) of the Act provides that the Minister may vary or revoke a special arrangement made under subsection 100(1).
Subsection 100(3) of the Act provides that Part VII of the Act, and instruments made for the purposes of Part VII of the Act, have effect subject to a special arrangement made under subsection 100(1).
Purpose
The purpose of this legislative instrument, made under subsections 100(1) and 100(2) of the Act, is to amend the National Health (Remote Aboriginal Health Services Program) Special Arrangements Instrument 2010 (PB 65 of 2010) (the Special Arrangement). This Special Arrangement provides for the supply to remote Aboriginal Health Services of pharmaceutical benefits.
This instrument increases the handling fee that is payable to an approved pharmacist or an approved hospital authority in respect of the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit to an approved Aboriginal Health Service in accordance with the Special Arrangement.
On and from 1 July 2014, the handling fee is increasing from $2.83 to $2.88. The handling fee is indexed annually (WCI9) in conformity with the increase in other fees provided for in the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement.
Consultations
The amendment is minor and machinery in nature.
The legislative instrument commences on 1 July 2014.
This Instrument is a legislative instrument for the purpose of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.