4Services to which rule 3 does not apply

4 Services to which rule 3 does not apply

(1) Rule 3 does not apply to a pathology service described in item 65060, 65070, 65120, 65123, 65126, 65129, 65150, 65153, 65156, 66500, 66503, 66506, 66509, 66512, 66584 or 66800 if:

(a) the service is rendered in relation to 1 or more specimens taken on any of not more than 6 occasions in a period of 24 hours; and

(b) the service is rendered to an inpatient of a hospital; and

(c) the service is rendered in relation to each specimen as soon as possible after the specimen is taken; and

(d) the account for the service is endorsed ‘Rule 3 Exemption’.

(1A) Rule 3 does not apply to a pathology service described in item 65109 or 65110 if:

(a) the service is rendered:

(i) for a service described in item 65109 — on 1 of not more than 5 occasions in a period of 24 hours; and

(ii) for a service described in item 65110 — on 1 of not more than 2 occasions in a period of 24 hours; and

(b) the service was requested on a separate occasion to any other occasions on which the service was requested in the period of 24 hours; and

(c) the account for the service is endorsed ‘Rule 3 Exemption’.

(2) Rule 3 does not apply to a pathology service described in subrule (3) if:

(a) under a request for a service, other than a request for a service described in paragraph (3) (a), no more than 6 tests are requested; and

(b) the tests are performed within 6 months of the request; and

(c) the account for the service is endorsed ‘Rule 3 Exemption’.

(3) For subrule (2), the pathology services are:

(a) estimation of prothrombin time (INR) for a patient undergoing anticoagulant therapy; and

(b) quantitative estimation of lithium for a patient undergoing lithium therapy; and

(c) a service described in item 65070 in relation to a patient undergoing chemotherapy for neoplastic disease or immunosuppressant therapy; and

(d) a service described in item 65070 in relation to
clozaril, ticlopidine hydrochloride, methotrexate, gold, sulphasalazine or penicillamine therapy of a patient; and

(e) a service described in any of items 66500 to 66512,
in relation to methotrexate or leflunomide therapy of a patient; and

(f) quantitative estimation of urea, creatinine and electrolytes in relation to:

(i) cis‑platinum or cyclosporin therapy of a patient; or

(ii) chronic renal failure of a patient being treated in
a dialysis program conducted by a recognised hospital; and

(g) quantitative estimation of albumin and calcium in relation to therapy of a patient with vitamin D, its metabolites or analogues; and