Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024N00576:front:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024N00576
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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 – Northern Territory Government) 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 subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) hereby:

    (1)            REVOKE the Direction made under subsection 19(2) of the Act in respect of professional services provided by the Northern Territory Government titled Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – Northern Territory Government) Direction 2021 dated 29 June 2021; and

    (2)          DIRECT that a Medicare benefit shall be payable in respect of:

    (a)   a professional service (as defined in section 3 of the Act) provided by a salaried provider employed or engaged by the Northern Territory Government and provided in a clinic listed in Schedule B to this Direction, for which;

         (i)     items specified in Schedule A to this Direction of the general medical services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4(1) of the Act), diagnostic imaging services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4AA(1) of the Act) and pathology services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4A(1) of the Act) relates; and

         (ii)  the professional service is provided to an eligible person (as defined in section 3 of the Act).

Note:  'Professional service' as used in this Direction is defined in the Act.

DECLARE that this Direction commences on 29 June 2024 and ceases to have effect at 30 June 2028 unless earlier revoked.

Date this 21 day of June 2024.

Nigel Murray
Assistant Secretary
MBS Policy and Specialist Programs Branch
Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division
Health Resourcing Group
Department of Health and Aged Care

SCHEDULE A

PERMITTED MEDICARE BENEFITS SCHEDULE items

For services listed in the below tables, all provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) and regulations made under the Act, and the National Health Act 1953 and regulations made under the National Health Act 1953, relating to medical services, professional services or items apply.

All items in the Groups listed in Table 1 are permitted. Services provided under this instrument must meet all the requirements of the items claimed, as provided in the relevant item descriptors.

Table 1: General Medical Services Table – item groups

Group   Group Name
A1      General practitioner attendances to which no other item applies
A2      Other non-referred attendances to which no other item applies
A5      Prolonged attendances to which no other item applies
A6      Group therapy
A7      Acupuncture and non-specialist practitioner items
A9      Contact lenses
A10     Optometric services provided by optometrist
A11