EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Health and Ageing
Private Health Insurance Act 2007
Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Amendment Rules 2010 (No. 1)
Section 333-20 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (the Act) provides that the Minister may make Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules providing for matters required or permitted by Part 3-3 of the Act, or necessary or convenient to be provided in order to carry out or give effect to Part 3-3 of the Act.
The Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2010 (the Rules), which commenced on 29 January 2010, provide for the minimum benefit requirements for psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care and other hospital treatment. Schedules 1 to 5 of the Rules set out the minimum levels of benefit which are payable for hospital treatment. Namely, benefits for overnight accommodation (Schedules 1 and 2), same day accommodation (Schedule 3), nursing-home type patients (Schedule 4) and second tier default benefits (Schedule 5).
The Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Amendment Rules 2010 (No. 1) (the Amendment Rules) amend Schedule 4 of the Rules.
The purpose of the amendments to Schedule 4 of the Rules is to reflect the changes in the minimum benefits for hospital treatment for patients who are classified as “nursing-home type patients” at public hospitals in certain States/Territories and at private hospitals nationally to reflect the indexation applied to Adult Pension Basic Rate and the maximum daily rate of rental assistance that will be effective from 20 March 2010.
Details of the Amendment Rules are set out in the Attachment.
Consultation
NSW Department of Health (NSW), Department of Health and Human Services (TAS) and Department of Health (VIC) were consulted with respect to increasing the minimum benefit for their jurisdictions in the circumstances described in Schedule 4 of the Rules. No objections were made.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE BRANCH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEING
MARCH 2010
ATTACHMENT
DETAILS OF THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE (BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS) AMENDMENT RULES 2010 (No. 1)
1. Name of Rules
Rule 1 provides that the title of the Rules is the Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Amendment Rules 2010 (No. 1) (the Amendment Rules).
2. Commencement
Rule 2 provides that the Amendment Rules are to commence on 20 March 2010 or, if registered on a later date, the day after registration.
3. Amendment of Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2010
Rule 3 provides that the Schedule to the Amendment Rules amends the Rules which commenced on 29 January 2010.
Schedule – Amendments
Item 1 – Schedule 4, Clause 6 Minimum benefit, Table 1
Schedule 4 of the Rules set out the minimum benefit payable per night for patients that are classified as Nursing Home Type Patients in hospitals.
Item 3 of the Schedule to the Amendment Rules increases the minimum benefit per night for public hospitals in the following States in clause 6, Table 1:
- New South Wales From: $101.65 to $103.25
- Tasmania From: $109.20 to $113.65
- Victoria From: $101.65 to $103.65
Item 4 – Schedule 4, Clause 6 Minimum benefit, Table 2
Schedule 4 of the Rules sets out the minimum benefit payable per night for patients that are classified as Nursing Home Type Patients in hospitals.
Item 4 of the Schedule to the Amendment Rules decreases the minimum benefit per night for private hospitals in clause 6, Table 2:
- Private hospitals From: $65.60 to $63.75.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE BRANCH
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGEING
MARCH 2010