Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973 - SECT 124ZU

  (1)   This section applies to a person who is:

  (a)   a party to a deed of agreement with the Commonwealth (as represented by the Department) for funding of a place in the Bonded Medical Places Scheme, including a deed of agreement as varied; or

  (b)   a party to a contract with the Commonwealth (as represented by the Department) for a Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship, including a contract as varied (an MRBS participant ).

  (2)   A person to whom subsection   (1) applies may opt in to the Bonded Medical Program by advising the Department, in writing, that:

  (a)   the person voluntarily wishes to opt in to the Program; and

  (b)   the person voluntarily agrees to participate in the Program using a web portal maintained by the Department.

  (3)   Despite subsection   (2), a person may not opt in to the Bonded Medical Program if:

  (a)   section   19ABA applies in relation to the person; or

  (aa)   both of the following apply:

  (i)   a determination has been made under subsection   19ABC(1) in relation to the person;

  (ii)   the period during which a medicare benefit is not payable to the person, as a result of the making of the determination, has not ended; or

  (b)   in the case of an MRBS participant--the person has not completed their course of study in medicine at an Australian university.

  (4)   If a person to whom subsection   (1) applies makes an application under subsection   124ZUA(1), the person must not advise the Department of the matters mentioned in subsection   (2) of this section until both of the following apply:

  (a)   a decision on the application has been made;

  (b)   any rights of review and appeal in relation to the decision have been exhausted.