20Contracted service providers

20 Contracted service providers

(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, engage an accredited service provider to provide hearing services to voucher‑holders, where each hearing service is available to the holder under the voucher. An accredited service provider engaged under this section is to be known as a contracted service provider. (2) The terms and conditions of the engagement are to be set out in a written agreement between the Minister (on behalf of the Commonwealth) and the contracted service provider. The terms and conditions must be consistent with the accreditation scheme and the rules of conduct. (3) Each condition of the accreditation of the contracted service provider is taken to be a condition of the engagement. This subsection does not limit subsection (2). (4) The cancellation or surrender of the accreditation of the contracted service provider terminates the engagement without giving the service provider any entitlement to compensation or damages. This subsection does not limit subsection (2). (5) AHS may enter into an agreement under this section at any time after the commencement of this section.