5. Definitions5. Definitions

5. Definitions

(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 chooses 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 medical service 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 medical 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 medical practitioner accepts the assignment as full payment of the medical practitioner’s fee for the service provided.

consultant psychiatrist means a consultant physician in the practice of the consultant physician’s specialty of psychiatry.

general medical services table means the table prescribed under subsection 4(1) of the Act.

Health professional 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.

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) is considered more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus being a person who is:

(i) at least 70 years old; or

(ii) at least 50 years old and is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; or

(iii) pregnant; or

(iv) a parent of a child under 12 months; or

(v) already under treatment for chronic health conditions or is 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