Medicare Benefits

Privacy Impact Assessment for the IMCA Initiative

The Privacy Impact Assessment for the IMCA Initiative is now available for review by stakeholders.

PDF printable version of Privacy Impact Assessment for the IMCA Initiative (PDF 268 KB)

How to comment on the PIA

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is inviting comments on the PIA for the IMCA initiative by cob 15 May 2009. Comments may be sent by email to medicareintegrity@health.gov.au or to:

Attn: Medicare Integrity
Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 106
GPO Box 9848
Canberra ACT 2601

Exposure Draft of the Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009

PDF printable version of Exposure Draft of the Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009 (PDF 70 KB)
PDF printable version of Exposure Draft of the Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009 Explanatory Material (PDF 103 KB)

The Health Insurance Amendment (Compliance) Bill 2009 is intended to give effect to the Increased MBS Compliance Audits (IMCA) initiative. The IMCA initiative was announced in the 2008-09 Budget. It aims to ensure the integrity of the Medicare scheme by:
- increasing the number of compliance audits undertaken by Medicare Australia;
- compelling practitioners to produce evidence to verify their Medicare claiming when audited; and
- introducing administrative sanctions for Medicare practitioners who claim incorrectly.

Legislative amendments to the HIA are required to require practitioners to produce evidence to verify their Medicare claiming when audited by Medicare Australia and for the introduction of financial penalties for practitioners who make incorrect Medicare claims.

How to comment on the Bill

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is inviting comments from interested stakeholders on the exposure draft of the Bill. Comments may be sent electronically to medicareintegrity@health.gov.au by email or to:

Attn: Medicare Integrity
Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 106
GPO Box 9848
Canberra ACT 2601

The exposure draft is being released to coincide with consideration of the IMCA initiative by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The Senate Community Affairs Committee has asked for submissions to be provided by 24 April 2009. Stakeholders who wish to make submissions to the Senate Inquiry can find more information about this process at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/medicare_benefits_compliance_audits/tor.htm

Information sheets

PDF printable version of Increased MBS Compliance audits information sheet (PDF 99 KB)

PDF printable version of The increased MBS compliance audit initiative information sheet -- your questions answered (PDF 124 KB)

PDF printable version of The new MBS audit process -- as proposed in the Draft legislation (flow chart) (PDF 65 KB)

PDF printable version of Medicare Australia's resources for Providers (PDF 77 KB)

PDF printable version of Increased MBS Compliance audit initiative -- consumer questions answered (PDF 36 KB)

If you are unable to download the PDF document(s) please send an email to medicareintegrity@health.gov.au for an alternative copy to be provided to you.