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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This 1972 regulation updates Commonwealth benefits under the National Health Act by revising the fee schedule for hundreds of medical procedures—setting separate GP (G) and Specialist (S) rates, reorganising radiology items, and adding coverage for then‑modern procedures (e.g., colonic fibreoscopy, pacemakers, knee arthroscopy, open‑heart surgery).
It changed how much patients received back, what doctors could claim, and which hospital diagnostic and surgical services were subsidised under the pre‑Medicare system.
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Direct links to the current provisions in National Health (Variation of Benefits) (No. 4) Regulations.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
STATUTORY RULES
1972 No.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953-1971.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Health Act 1953-1971.
Dated this 1st day of, February, 1972.
Paul Hasluck
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
KEN ANDERSON
Minister of State for Health.
NATIONAL HEALTH (VARIATION OF BENEFITS) (No. 4) REGULATIONS
Citation.
Commencement.
Definition.
Act to have effect as varied.
THE SCHEDULE Regulation 4.
Variations of the Table in the First Schedule to the Act
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:11.3pt"><td colspan="4" style="width:487.45pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>1. Omit item 24.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:11.05pt"><td colspan="4" style="width:487.45pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>2. Omit item 267, insert the following item:—</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:13.9pt"><td style="width:55.5pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“265</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:358.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Version, external or internal, under anaesthesia (G)</span></p></td><td style="width:65.1pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.50”.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.7pt"><td colspan="4" style="width:487.45pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>3. Omit items 971 and 976, insert the following items:—</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:16.8pt"><td colspan="2" style="width:56.5pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“972</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><div style="background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt"><span>Gastric hypothermia by closed circuit circulation of refrigerant in the absence of gastrointestinal haemorrhage</span></p></div></td><td style="width:65.1pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>16.00”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:19.45pt"><td colspan="2" style="width:56.5pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“975</span></p></td><td style="width:357.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><div style="background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt"><span>Gastric hypothermia by closed circuit circulation of refrigerant for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage</span></p></div></td><td style="width:65.1pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>33.00”.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.5pt"><td colspan="3" style="width:418.35pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4. Omit item 1346, insert the following item:—</span></p></td><td style="width:65.1pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.5pt"><td style="width:55.5pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“1346</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:358.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine or digoxin, free plasma estimation of</span></p></td><td style="width:65.1pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>10.20”.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:12.25pt"><td colspan="3" style="width:418.35pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>5. After item 1852, insert the following item:—</span></p></td><td style="width:65.1pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:14.65pt"><td style="width:55.5pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“1853</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:358.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Bromsulphthalein infusion test of liver function</span></p></td><td style="width:65.1pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>10.00”.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:0pt"><td style="width:59.5pt"></td><td style="width:1pt"></td><td style="width:361.85pt"></td><td style="width:69.1pt"></td></tr></tbody></table>
* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1972.
24102/71—Price 25c 9/18.1.1972
The Schedule—continued
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="width:100%; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:1pt"><td colspan="4" style="width:487.45pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>6. After item 1947 insert the following item:—</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td colspan="2" style="width:52pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“1948</span></p></td><td style="width:364.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><div style="background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt"><span>Gastrointestinal blood loss estimation with radioactive chromium involving serial examinations of stool specimens</span><span></span></p></div></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>10.00”.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td colspan="4" style="width:487.45pt; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:5.05pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>7. Omit items 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026, insert the following items:—</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2011</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Digits or phalanges—all or any of either hand or either foot (G)</span><span style="width:54.43pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.......</span></p></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.00”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2013</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Digits or phalanges—all or any of either hand or either foot (S)</span><span style="width:56.42pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">.......</span></p></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.50”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2015</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Hand, wrist, forearm, elbow or arm (elbow to shoulder) (G)</span><span style="width:73.42pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..........</span></p></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.00”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2016</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>Hand, wrist, forearm, elbow or arm (elbow to shoulder) (S)</span><span style="width:75.41pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..........</span></p></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.50”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2019</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><div style="background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt"><span>Hand, wrist and lower forearm and elbow; or elbow and arm (elbow to shoulder) (G)</span><span style="width:24.46pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block"></span></p></div></td><td style="width:62.6pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>4.50”</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:1pt"><td style="width:51.7pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; font-size:12pt; background-color:#ffffff"><span>“2020</span></p></td><td colspan="2" style="width:365.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom; background-color:#ffffff"><div style="background-color:#ffffff"><p style="margin-left:14.4pt; text-indent:-14.4pt; text-align:justify; font-size:12pt"><span>Hand, wrist and lower forearm and elbow; or elbow and arm (elbow to s
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