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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This temporary instrument created Medicare rebates for phone and video (telehealth) consultations during COVID-19 so vulnerable Australians could access care remotely. It covered higher‑risk patients (e.g. older adults, pregnant women, infants’ parents, immunocompromised, quarantined, or triaged cases) and a range of providers (GPs, other doctors, allied health, nurse practitioners, midwives). Services were bulk‑billed, required continuous audio (and video when available), favoured video over phone, and sometimes required a prior 12‑month face‑to‑face; it lapsed on 30 Sept 2020.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID-19 Services) Determination 2020.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID‑19 Services) Determination 2020
made under subsection 3C(1) of the
Health Insurance Act 1973
Compilation No. 4
Compilation date: 23 March 2020
Includes amendments up to: F2020L00298
Registered: 22 May 2020
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID-19 Services) Determination 2020 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 23 March 2020 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Name ..................................................1
Commencement............................................1
Cessation................................................1
Authority................................................1
Definitions...............................................1
Treatment of relevant services....................................3
Schedule 1 – Relevant Services 4
Division 1.1 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 medical practitioner attendances 4
Division 1.2 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 allied health telehealth services 13
Division 1.3 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 medical practitioner attendances 20
Division 1.4 – Services and fees – Services and fees – COVID‑19 allied health phone services 22
Division 1.5 – Services and fees – Services and fees – COVID‑19 midwifery telehealth and phone services 29
Endnotes 31
Endnote 1—About the endnotes 31
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 32
Endnote 3—Legislation history 33
Endnote 4—Amendment history 34
This instrument is the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – GP and Allied Health COVID‑19 Services) Determination 2020.
(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr style="height:10.1pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Commencement information</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:10.45pt"><td style="width:37.7%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Column 1</span></p></td><td style="width:40.26%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Column 2</span></p></td><td style="width:22.04%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Column 3</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:37.7%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Provisions</span></p></td><td style="width:40.26%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Commencement</span></p></td><td style="width:22.04%; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Date/Details</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:37.7%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">1.</span><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt">The whole of this instrument</span></p></td><td style="width:40.26%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt">13 March 2020</span></p></td><td style="width:22.04%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; page-break-after:avoid; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt"></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
Unless earlier revoked this instrument ceases on 30 September 2020.
This instrument is made under subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
(1) In this instrument:
Act means the Health Insurance Act 1973.
admitted patient means a patient who is receiving a service that is provided:
(a) as part of an episode of hospital treatment; or
(b) as part of an episode of hospital substitute treatment in respect of which the person to whom the treatment is provided choses to receive a benefit from a private health insurer
NOTE: hospital treatment and hospital‑substitute treatment have the same meaning as defined in the Health Insurance Act 1973
bulk‑billed: a service in the Determination is bulk‑billed if:
(a) a medicare benefit is payable to a person in relation to the service; and
(b) under an agreement entered into under section 20A of the Act:
(i) the person assigns to the practitioner by whom, or on whose behalf, the service is provided, the person’s right to the payment of the medicare benefit; and
(ii) the practitioner accepts the assignment in full payment of the practitioner’s fee for the service provided.
health professional is at risk of COVID‑19 virus means a person that:
(a) has been diagnosed with COVID‑19 virus but who is not a patient of a hospital; or
(b) has been required to isolate themselves in quarantine in accordance with home isolation guidance issued by Australian Health Protection Principal Committee; or
patient at risk of COVID‑19 virus means a person that:
(a) has been diagnosed with COVID‑19 virus but who is not a patient of a hospital; or
(b) has been required to isolate themselves in quarantine in accordance with home isolation guidance issued by Australian Health Protection Principal Committee; or
(c) considered more susceptible to the COVID‑19 virus being:
(i) at least 70 years old, or
(ii) at least 50 years old or over if of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
(iii) pregnant; or
(iv) a parent of a child under 12 months; or
(v) a person under treatment for chronic health conditions or who are immune compromised; or
(d) the person meets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID‑19 infection.
phone attendance means a professional attendance by telephone where the health practitioner:
(a) has the capacity to provide the full service through this means safely and in accordance with professional standards; and
(b) is satisfied that it is clinically appropriate to provide the service to the patient; and
(c) maintains an audio link with the patient
relevant provisions means all provisions, of 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.
relevant service means a health service, as defined in subsection 3C(8) of the Act, that is specified in a Schedule.
Schedule means a Schedule to this instrument.
Note: The following terms are defined in subsection 3(1) of the Act:
clinically relevant service;
general medical services table;
item;
participating midwife;
participating nurse practitioner;
professional service
telehealth attendance means a professional attendance by video conference where the health practitioner:
(a) has the capacity to provide the full service through this means safely and in accordance with professional standards; and
(b) is satisfied that it is clinically appropriate to provide the service to the patient; and
(c) maintains a visual and audio link with the patient; and
(d) is satisfied that the software and hardware used to deliver the service meets the applicable laws for security and privacy.
(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a reference in this instrument to a provision of the Act or the National Health Act 1953 or regulations made under the Act or under the National Health Act 1953 as applied, adopted or incorporated in relation to specifying a matter is a reference to those provisions as in force from time to time and any other reference to provisions of an Act or regulations is a reference to those provisions as in force from time to time.
For subsection 3C(1) of the Act a relevant service, provided in accordance with this Instrument where a clinically relevant service, is to be treated, for the relevant provisions, as if:
(a) it were both a professional service and a medical service; and
(b) there were an item in the general medical services table that:
(i) related to the service; and
(ii) specified for the service a fee in relation to each State, being the fee specified in the Schedule in relation to the service.
An item in a Schedule to this Determination only applies to a service provided on and after 13 March 2020 and before the commencement of the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services –COVID-19 Services) Determination 2020.
Schedule 1 – Relevant Services
Division 1.1 – Services and fees – COVID‑19 medical practitioner attendances
1.1.1 – Application of COVID‑19 medical practitioner telehealth services
(1) For items 91794, 91799, 91806, 91807, 91808, 91815, 91816 and 91817, “eligible area” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Other Medical Practitioner) Determination 2018. (2) For items in Division 1.1, “medical practitioner” has the meaning given by section 4 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Other Medical Practitioner) Determination 2018.
(3) Clause 2.22.7 of the general medical services table shall have effect as if items 91818 and 91819 were also specified in that clause.
(4) Clause 1.9.4 of the Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Other Medical Practitioner) Determination 2018 shall have effect as if items 91820 and 91821 were also specified in that clause.
(5) For items in Subgroups 1 and 2, the rendering practitioner must not perform a service in subgroup 2 if the practitioner and the patient have the capacity to undertake an attendance by telehealth.
(6) For items in Subgroups 1 and 2, a person who meets the requirements of a “patient at risk for COVID‑19 virus” in paragraph (c) of the definition must:
(a) have had at least one face to face attendance rendered in the preceding 12 months by the practitioner who renders the COVID‑19 virus service; or
(b) have had at least one face to face attendance service rendered in the preceding 12 months at (or arranged by) the medical practice where the practitioner who renders the COVID‑19 virus service is employed.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:13.6pt"><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><a id="CU_39665"></a><a id="CU_610973"></a><a id="CU_912915"></a><a id="CU_1315557"></a><a id="CU_1716977"></a><a id="CU_2118931"></a><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Group A40 – COVID</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">‑</span><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">19 general practice telehealth services</span></p></td><td style="width:11.52%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; text-align:right; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold"></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13.6pt"><td style="width:12.9%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Item</span></p></td><td style="width:75.58%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Description</span></p></td><td style="width:11.52%; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:3pt; text-align:right; line-height:12pt"><span style="font-size:10pt; font-weight:bold">Fee ($)</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13.6pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; ve
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.