Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00195:reg:102
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00195
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 102
Character Range: 111013–112888

102  Period of validity for referrals
 (1) Subject to this section:
 (a) a referral that states it is valid for a fixed period is valid until the end of that period after the first service rendered in accordance with the referral; and
 (b) a referral that states it is valid indefinitely is valid for an indefinite period; and
 (c) a referral that does not state a time for which it remains valid is valid until 12 months after the first service rendered in accordance with the referral.

Referrals given by particular persons
 (2) A referral given by a specialist or consultant physician is valid:
 (a) for a maximum of 3 months after the first service given in accordance with the referral; or
 (b) if the referred person is a patient in a hospital at the time of referral and continues to be so for more than 3 months—until the person ceases to be a patient in a hospital.
 (3) A referral given by a participating midwife is valid for a maximum of 12 months after the first service is given in accordance with the referral, and for one pregnancy only.
 (4) A referral given by a participating nurse practitioner is valid for a maximum of 12 months after the first service is given in accordance with the referral.

Special cases
 (5) A referral for a professional service to a patient in a hospital who is not a public patient is valid until the patient ceases to be a patient in the hospital who is not a public patient.
 (6) A referral that does not comply with subsection 98(1), and is given in the circumstances described in subsection 98(2) (emergencies), is valid for only one attendance on the patient.
 (7) A written referral that is lost, stolen or destroyed is valid for only one attendance on the patient.

Part 12—Application, saving and transitional provisions

Division 1—Transitional matters relating to the repeal of the Health Insurance Regulations 1975