Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations Commonwealth Consolidated Regulations(1) Subject to this section, a referral for the rendering of a service to a patient must be received by the specialist or consultant physician before the service is rendered to the patient.
Lost, stolen or destroyed referral
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the patient tells the specialist or consultant physician:
(a) that a written referral referring the patient to the specialist or consultant physician has been completed by a referring practitioner; and
(b) the name of the referring practitioner; and
(c) that the referral has been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Emergencies
(3) Subsection (1) and a requirement for a referral in an item do not apply if:
(a) a specialist or consultant physician decides that it is necessary in the patient's interests to render the professional service specified in the item as soon as practicable; and
(b) subsection 98(3) applies to the patient; and
(c) the specialist or consultant physician begins rendering the service to the patient within 30 minutes of presentation.