Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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HEALTH INSURANCE (1995-96 DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES TABLE) REGULATIONS 1995 NO. 299

STATUTORY RULES 1995 No. 299

Issued by authority of the Minister for Human Services and Health

Health Insurance Act 1973

Health Insurance (1995-96 Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations

The Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) provides for payments by way of Medicare benefits, payments for hospital services and payments for matters concerning related committees and tribunals.

Section 133 of the Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of the Act.

Section 4AA of the Act provides that the regulations may prescribe a table of diagnostic imaging services (the table). The Health Insurance (1994-1995 Diagnostic Imaging Services Table) Regulations, Statutory Rules 1994 No. 363 and Statutory Rules 1995 No. 154 currently prescribe such a table.

Section 9 of the Act provides that Medicare benefits shall be calculated by reference to the fees for diagnostic imaging services set out in the table.

Details of the regulations are as follows:

Regulation 2 provides for the proposed regulations to commence on 1 November 1995.

Regulation 3 provides for the repeal of Statutory Rules 1994 No. 363 and Statutory Rules 1995 No. 154 which give authority for the table which is to be replaced.

Regulation 4 prescribes the new table of diagnostic imaging services and rules of interpretation.

Rules of Interpretation

The amendments to the Rules of Interpretation provide for increased dollar amounts in Rules 10, 11, 15 and 16.

Table of Services and Fees

The changes to the fees for services in the table have been adjusted in line with the announcement made in the 1995/96 Budget. Except for five non-specific items whose fees were decreased to $5.20, fees have been adjusted by the addition of 1.8 per cent. A word change in one of the item descriptions was made to clarify its meaning.

The Regulations commence on 1 November 1995.