Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2024A00070:clause:1_3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2024A00070
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 1 cl 3
Character Range: 3464–6078

3  Subsections 20A(1), (2) and (2A)
Repeal the subsections, substitute:

Bulk billing assignments
 (1) An eligible person (the assignor) to whom a medicare benefit is or will be payable in respect of a professional service may enter into an agreement to assign the assignor's right to the payment of the medicare benefit if:
 (a) the professional service is or will be rendered to the assignor or to another eligible person; and
 (b) the agreement is entered into with the person by whom, or on whose behalf, the professional service is or will be rendered (the professional); and
 (c) the agreement provides that:
 (i) the assignor assigns the assignor's right to the payment of the medicare benefit to the professional at the time the agreement is entered into or when the medicare benefit becomes payable (whichever is the later); and
 (ii) the professional accepts the assignment in full payment of the medical expenses that have been or will be incurred in respect of the professional service by the assignor; and
 (d) any requirements specified in the regulations are met.
Note 1: The professional must, if asked to, give the assignor a copy of the terms of the agreement: see subsection 127(1).
Note 2: Regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 127(2)(c) may require the professional to give the assignor other notifications.

Simplified billing assignments: basic rule
 (2) An eligible person (the assignor) to whom a medicare benefit would, apart from this section, be payable in respect of a professional service is taken to have assigned the assignor's right to the payment of the medicare benefit if:
 (a) the professional service is rendered to the assignor or another eligible person while hospital treatment or hospital‑substitute treatment is provided to the assignor or that other eligible person; and
 (b) the assignor has entered into a complying health insurance policy with a private health insurer (the insurer); and
 (c) under the policy, the assignor is covered (wholly or partly) for liability to pay fees and charges in respect of the professional service; and
 (d) a claim is made under section 20B for the medicare benefit that would, apart from this section, be payable to the assignor in respect of the professional service; and
 (e) subsection 20AAA(1), (3) or (5) applies to the assignor's right to the payment of the medicare benefit in respect of the professional service.
 (2A) If the right to payment of a medicare benefit is taken to be assigned under subsection (2) of this section, it is taken to be assigned to the person specified in subsection 20AAA(2), (4) or (6).