9Assigning healthcare identifiers

9 Assigning healthcare identifiers

(1) The service operator is authorised to assign a number (a healthcare identifier) to uniquely identify: (a) a healthcare provider to whom section 9A or 9BA applies; or (b) a healthcare recipient. (2) A national registration authority is authorised to assign a number (a healthcare identifier) to uniquely identify a healthcare provider, if: (a) the healthcare provider is an individual who is a member of a particular health profession; and (b) the national registration authority is responsible under a law for registering members of that health profession. (3) The types of healthcare identifiers include: (a) an identifier that is assigned to an individual healthcare provider; and (b) an identifier that is assigned to a healthcare provider organisation; and (ba) an identifier that is assigned to a healthcare support service provider; and (c) an identifier that is assigned to a healthcare recipient.

Note: A sole practitioner may be assigned:

(a) a healthcare identifier of the type mentioned in paragraph (3)(a); and
(b) a different healthcare identifier of the type mentioned in paragraph (3)(b).

(4) In exercising a power under subsection (1), the service operator is not required to consider whether a healthcare provider or healthcare recipient agrees to having a healthcare identifier assigned to the healthcare provider or healthcare recipient. (6) A healthcare identifier of a healthcare recipient or of an individual healthcare provider is a government related identifier for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.