Commonwealth Numbered Regulations

HUMAN SERVICES (MEDICARE) REGULATIONS 2017 (F2017L01008) - REG 34

             (1)  The following are prescribed functions of the Chief Executive Medicare:

                     (a)  to establish, maintain and administer a register of:

                              (i)  bowel cancer screening test results; and

                             (ii)  the screening and detection history of people specified in subsection (2); and

                            (iii)  other relevant information in relation to such people;

                     (b)  to invite people to undergo bowel cancer screening at appropriate intervals;

                     (c)  to supply faecal occult blood test kits to people;

                     (d)  to provide personal information about a person's bowel cancer screening and detection history to a medical practitioner to assist the medical practitioner in advising the person about options for the person's clinical management;

                     (e)  to provide personal information about a person to the Department administered by the Minister administering the Health Insurance Act 1973 to assist in investigating complaints and other matters raised by, or concerning, the person;

                      (f)  to provide personal information to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to assist in:

                              (i)  assessing the accuracy of screening tests; and

                             (ii)  monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register;

                     (g)  to provide personal information to State and Territory Departments and authorities with responsibility for health matters, to assist in arranging follow-up of people who have had positive screening test results;

                     (h)  to provide de-identified information to:

                              (i)  the Department administered by the Minister administering the Health Insurance Act 1973 ; and

                             (ii)  the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare;

                            to assist in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register;

                      (i)  to make payments on behalf of the Commonwealth to medical practitioners, or other persons authorised by medical practitioners to receive the payments, for the transfer of information.

             (2)  For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), the following are specified:

                     (a)  people undergoing bowel cancer screening;

                     (b)  people whom the Chief Executive Medicare invites to undergo bowel cancer screening;

                     (c)  people whom the Chief Executive Medicare:

                              (i)  considers inviting to undergo bowel cancer screening; but

                             (ii)  decides not to invite to undergo the screening.

             (3)  The following information may be used for the purposes of performing the functions mentioned in subsection (1):

                     (a)  information acquired by a person in the performance of the person's duties, or in the exercise of the person's powers or functions, under the Health Insurance Act 1973 ;

                     (b)  information acquired by a person in the performance of the person's duties, or in the exercise of the person's powers or functions, under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 .

             (4)  The program constituted by the functions mentioned in subsection (1) is to be known as the National Bowel Cancer Screening Register .