EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953
NATIONAL HEALTH (REMOTE ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM) SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AMENDMENT INSTRUMENT 2016 (NO. 1)
PB 17 of 2016 (No. 1)
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 the National Health (Remote Aboriginal Health Services Program) Special Arrangements Amendment Instrument 2016 (No. 1), (the Amendment 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). The Special Arrangement provides for the supply to remote Aboriginal Health Services of pharmaceutical benefits.
The Amendment Instrument amends paragraph 9(b) to “an amount equal to the administration, handling and infrastructure fee worked out under the determination under paragraph 98B(1)(a) of the Act” 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.
The 'pharmacy mark-up' previously referred to in paragraph 9(b) became the administrative, handling and infrastructure fee on 1 July 2015 via amendment to the paragraph 98B(1)(a) determination. This amendment is a technical change for simplicity and clarity to ensure that it is clear on the face of the special arrangement that the 'pharmacy mark-up' is the administration, handling and infrastructure fee.
Consultations
The Amendment Instrument is minor and machinery in nature.
The Amendment Instrument commences on 1 March 2016.
The Amendment Instrument is a legislative instrument for the purpose of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.