EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Health
Private Health Insurance Act 2007
Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Amendment Rules 2015 (No. 1)
Authority
Section 333-20 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (the Act) provides that the Minister may make Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules providing for matters required or permitted by Chapter 3 and/or section 188-1 of the Act, or necessary or convenient in order to carry out or give effect to Chapter 3 and/or section 188-1 of the Act.
The Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Amendment Rules 2015 (No. 1) (the Amendment Rules) amend Rule 8A of the Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2010 (No. 2) (the Principal Rules) which commenced on 14 January 2011.
Purpose
The purpose of the amendments to Rule 8A is to change the patient contribution payable per night for nursing-home type patients (NHTP) at public hospitals in some states and at private hospitals nationally.
Background
Rule 8A of the Principal Rules sets the patient contribution for privately insured NHTPs by restricting the amount of benefit that private health insurers pay for each day of NHTP hospital treatment at a hospital. The amount of benefit is restricted to the hospital’s charge less the patient contribution amount.
The Schedule to the Amendment Rules makes minor changes to Paragraph 8A(3)(a) of the Principal Rules by amending the NHTP contribution rate at public hospitals in
New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria and
Western Australia. The Amendment Rules also make changes to Paragraph 8A(3)(b) of the Principal Rules by amending the NHTP contribution rate at private hospitals nationally. Changes to the NHTP contribution rate reflect increases in the Adult Pension Basic Rate and the Maximum Daily Rate of Rental Assistance (Pension and Rental Assistance Rates), which take effect on 20 March 2015.
Details
Details of the Amendment Rules are set out in the Attachment.
Consultation
On 4 March 2015, states and territories were asked whether they would be increasing the NHTP contribution and accommodation rates in their jurisdiction in line with increases in the Pension and Rental Assistance Rates. New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Northern Territory, Victoria and Western Australia advised that they will increase the NHTP contribution rates in their public hospitals from 20 March 2015. The
Australian Capital Territory advised that it is not increasing its NHTP contribution and accommodation rates at this time.
No specific consultation was undertaken in relation to the amendment to Paragraph 8A(3)(b) of the Principal Rules regarding private hospitals because the change was machinery in nature and linked to the twice annual Pension and Rental Assistance Rates increase. The change does not substantially alter existing arrangements.
The Amendment Rules commence on 20 March 2015 or, if registered after 20 March 2015, the day after registration.
The Amendment Rules are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Authority: Section 333-20 of the
Private Health Insurance Act 2007
MEDICAL BENEFITS DIVISION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
MARCH 2015
ATTACHMENT
DETAILS OF THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE (COMPLYING PRODUCT) AMENDMENT RULES 2015 (No. 1)
Section 1 Name of Rules
Section 1 provides that the title of the Rules is the Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Amendment Rules 2015 (No. 1) (the Amendment Rules).
Section 2 Commencement
Section 2 provides that the Amendment Rules are to commence on 20 March 2015, or if registered on a later date, the day after registration.
Section 3 Amendment of Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2010 (No. 2)
Section 3 provides that the Schedule to the Amendment Rules amends the Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2010 (No. 2) (the Principal Rules) which commenced on 14 January 2011.
Schedule – Amendments
Item 1 – Part 2, Paragraph 8A(3)(a)
Paragraph 8A(3)(a) of the Principal Rules set out the patient contribution for privately insured NHTPs at public hospitals.
Item 1 of the Schedule of the Amendment Rules amends Part 2, Paragraph 8A(3)(a) of the Principal Rules by increasing the NHTP contribution at public hospitals:
- New South Wales $56.50 to $56.90;
- Northern Territory $56.50 to $56.90;
- Queensland $56.50 to $56.90;
- South Australia $56.50 to $56.90;
- Tasmania $56.50 to $56.90;
- Victoria $56.50 to $56.90; and
- Western Australia $56.50 to $56.90.
Item 2 – Part 2, Paragraph 8A(3)(b)
Paragraph 8A(3)(b) of the Principal Rules set out the patient contribution for privately insured NHTPs at private hospitals.
Item 2 of the Schedule of the Amendment Rules amends Part 2, Paragraph 8A(3)(b) of the Principal Rules by increasing the NHTP contribution at private hospitals from $56.50 to $56.90.