Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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HEALTH INSURANCE (1995-96 PATHOLOGY SERVICES TABLE) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT) 1995 NO. 301

STATUTORY RULES 1995 No. 301

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Human Services and Health

Health Insurance Act 1973

Health Insurance (1995-96 Pathology Services Table) Regulations (Amendment)

Section 133 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Section 9 of the Act provides, in effect, that Medicare benefits shall be calculated by reference to the fees for medical services (including pathology services) set out in the table (which includes the pathology services table) in Schedule 1A to the Act.

Section 4A of the Act provides, among other things, that the regulations may prescribe a table of pathology services setting out fees applicable to items of pathology services and rules for interpreting the table. The Health Insurance (1995-96 Pathology Services Table) Regulations (the principal regulations) prescribe such a table.

The Regulations have been developed with the co-operation and support of the two peak pathology professional bodies, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the Australian Association of Pathology Practices.

Details of the Regulations are as follows:

Regulation 3.1 amends item 66201 to exclude the use of "tablets" to measure the substances listed.

In Regulations 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6, amendments have been made to items 66241, 66329, 66417 and 69241 to clarify their meaning so as to make them easier to use and to enforce.

Regulation 3.5 contains new item 66421 covering testing for reducing substances in faeces. This test used to be included in item 66217, but on 1 November 1994 this item was replaced by 66221 which did not mention reducing substances. New item 66421 remedies this omission.

Regulation 3.7 amends item 73529 so as to exclude the use of latex, membrane, strip or other simple pregnancy testing kits which attract a lesser fee under item 73806.

Regulation 3.8 increases the fees for forty items in the Table. It has been agreed that a general Medicare Benefits Schedule fee increase of 1.8 per cent will take effect from 1 November 1995. In the Pathology Services Table, an amount equivalent to an overall increase of 1.8% in pathology schedule fees has been allocated to forty specific items to improve fee relativities. This is consistent with the 1995-96 Budget pathology package.

These Regulations will have effect from 1 November 1995.