Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024N01031:body:0:p1
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AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973

Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program) Direction 2024

I, Nigel Murray, Assistant Secretary, MBS Policy and Specialist Programs Branch, Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division, Health Resourcing Group, delegate for the Minister for Health and Aged Care, acting under section 19 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) hereby:

     1.                DIRECT that under subsection 19(2) of the Act Medicare benefits shall be payable in respect of:

      1.      a professional service (as defined in section 3 of the Act) which has been provided in accordance with the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care (ABN: 83 605 426 759) and at an eligible service specified in subparagraph (1)(c)(iii) of this direction for which:

             1.        item 73813 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – Point-of-Care Testing Services) Determination 2024 or item 73825 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Midwife and Nurse Practitioner Services) Determination 2020 relate; and

      2.      where the professional service is provided to:

             1.        an eligible person (as defined in section 3 of the Act) who is;

                      1.  not receiving the service as part of an episode of hospital treatment (as defined in section 121-5 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007); and

                      2.  not receiving a service which attracts a payment through the 2020-2025 Addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement for a service rendered to a public patient; and

      3.      the professional services referred to in paragraph (1)(a) must be provided:

             1.        by, or on behalf of, a salaried medical practitioner or participating nurse practitioner, where the professional service meets all relevant item requirements, or

             2.      where the service is performed on behalf of a medical practitioner, by a practice nurse, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner or eligible Aboriginal health worker, where the professional service meets all relevant item requirements; and

             3.   at an eligible service in Modified Monash 6 area or Modified Monash 7 area (as defined in Section 7.1.1 of the general medical services table) specified in Schedule A of this Direction.

     1.                DIRECT that under subsection 19(5) of the Act Medicare benefits shall be payable in respect of:

     (a)     a professional service (as defined in section 3 of the Act) which has been provided in accordance with the First Nations Molecular Point-of-Care Testing Program managed by the Department of Health and Aged Care (ABN: 83 605 426 759) and at an eligible service specified in subparagraph 1(c)(iii) of this Direction for which:

(i)     item 73813 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – Point-of-Care Testing Services) Determination