{"id":"F2018L00489","name":"Health Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Amendment (Application Form) Principles 2018","slug":"health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":439579,"registerId":"F2018L00489-fast-fetch-1775955552153","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Health Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Amendment (Application Form) Principles 2018","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nHealth Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Amendment (Application Form) Principles 2018\n\nI, DAVID WEISS, delegate of the Minister for Health, determine the following principles under subsection 23DNBA(4) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.\n\nDated 9 March 2018\n\nDavid Weiss  First Assistant Secretary  Medical Benefits Division  Department of Health   \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Schedules\n\nSchedule 1—Amendments\n\nHealth Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Principles 2010\n\nSchedule 2—Application\n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Health Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Amendment (Application Form) Principles 2018.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under subsection 23DNBA(4) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.\n\n4  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\nSchedule 1—Amendments\n\nHealth Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Principles 2010\n\n1  Subsection 5(1) (including note)\n\nRepeal the subsection, substitute:\n\n(1) An application for approval of an eligible collection centre must not be considered by the Minister unless:\n\n(a) it is made:\n\n(i) by an APA who is an eligible applicant; and\n\n(ii) in writing and in the prescribed form; and\n\n(b) the application is complete.\n\n(1A) An application for approval of an eligible collection centre will be complete for the purposes of paragraph 5(1)(b) where the applicant has provided:\n\n(a) a response to each question asked in the prescribed form;\n\n(b) any information reasonably necessary to substantiate or explain each such response; and\n\n(c) any additional information required by the Minister under subsection 5(3) which is to be provided at the time of lodgement of the application.\n\nNote Prescribed forms may be obtained from the Department of Human Services.\n\nSchedule 2—Application\n\n1  Application\n\n(1) The amendments made by item 1 of Schedule 1 apply to applications for approval as an eligible collection centre made after the commencement of that item.\n\n(2) For subsection (1):\n\n(a) an application sent by post is taken to be made at the time the applicant posts it to the address specified in the prescribed form; and\n\n(b) an application lodged electronically is taken to be made at the time the applicant uploads the prescribed form through the Department of Human Services' Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) portal.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument narrows and clarifies the application process: it replaces the prior subsection to require applications be from eligible APAs, in the prescribed form, and complete (answers, substantiation and any Minister-requested information at lodgement), and it establishes timing rules for postal and electronic lodgement. Effectively it increases applicant documentation obligations and gives the Minister clearer procedural grounds to refuse incomplete applications (see substituted s5(1), s5(1A) and Schedule 2)."},"complexity_factors":["Replaces subsection 5(1) and inserts a new completeness test (substituted s5(1) and s5(1A)) that refers to answers to every question and information “reasonably necessary to substantiate” those answers — invites interpretation about what is reasonably necessary.","Confers logistical discretion to the Minister to require additional information under subsection 5(3) to be provided at lodgement (s5(1A)(c)), increasing upfront compliance burden and potential for pre-lodgement rejection.","Relies on external, defined terms and instruments (eg. APA, eligible applicant, prescribed form, Health Insurance (Eligible Collection Centres) Approval Principles 2010), so understanding effects requires cross-referencing other provisions.","Adds precise timing rules for when an application is ‘made’ (Schedule 2): time of posting for mail and time of upload to the Department's HPOS portal for electronic lodgement — creates legal consequences for deadlines and disputes about receipt.","Practical dependency on Department of Human Services systems (HPOS) and on where prescribed forms are obtained may create operational compliance issues for applicants.","Amendment only applies to applications made after commencement (Schedule 2(1)), so transitional and retrospective questions are limited but require attention."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument changes how organisations (approved pathology authorities) apply to be approved as eligible collection centres under the Health Insurance Act. It requires applications to come from an eligible APA, be in writing using the prescribed form, and be “complete” (answer every question, supply supporting material and any extra information the Minister requires at lodgement). It also fixes when postal and electronic applications are treated as made, which matters for deadlines and eligibility."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This amendment stays tightly within its original scope. It does exactly what the title suggests — amends the application form requirements for eligible collection centre approvals. There is no mission creep; it doesn't expand the regulatory scheme to new entities, add substantive approval criteria, or alter the underlying policy framework. It merely operationalises existing powers by specifying what constitutes a 'complete' application."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (approximately 1.5 pages of substantive content)","Only one substantive amendment replacing a single subsection","No defined terms section — relies on definitions in parent Act (Health Insurance Act 1973) and principal principles (2010)","Simple conditional structure (if-then) with no nested exceptions","Minimal cross-referencing (only to subsection 23DNBA(4) of parent Act and the 2010 Principles)","Straightforward application provisions with clear temporal and procedural triggers"],"plain_english_summary":"This amendment tightens the rules for Medicare approval of pathology collection centres by defining when an application is \"complete\" (all form questions answered, supporting evidence provided, and any extra Minister‑requested information included) and when it is \"made\" (date posted or uploaded via HPOS). It affects Approved Pathology Authorities and, indirectly, patients by reducing incomplete submissions and speeding approvals."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018","history":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/health-insurance-eligible-collection-centres-approval-amendment-application-form-principles-2018/documents"}}