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After Hours Other Medical Practitioners (AHOMPs) Program

Changes to primary care items effective from 1 May 2010.

Changes to After Hours Attendance Items

In 2009, Minister Roxon announced changes to primary care items effective from 1 May 2010 including after hours items under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). These changes were as a result of a review undertaken by the Department in 2009 to streamline and simplify the MBS.

Accordingly, the AHOMPs Program Guidelines have been amended to reflect new MBS after hours items. The changes to after hours items include extending the time frame for the after hours period. Urgent after hours items have a new commencement time of 6pm on weekdays and 12 pm on Saturdays. Non-urgent after hours items provided out of consulting rooms also commence at 6pm on weekdays and 12 pm on Saturdays. The after hours period for non-urgent items provided in consultation rooms is unchanged. In addition, urgent after hours items for services provided in consultation rooms and at a place other than consultation rooms have been combined, and merged with transitional hours item.

Description

The AHOMPs program provides access to the higher Medicare rebate to non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners providing after hours general practice services through an accredited general practice or an accredited Medical Deputising Service (MDS). Normally non-vocationally recognised medical practitioners would access the lower Medicare rebate.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this program, a doctor must:

• be a non-vocationally recognised medical practitioner registered with a State or Territory Medical Registration Board
• have current access to Medicare benefits
• be providing after hours general practice services through an accredited general practice or an accredited MDS
• agree to enrol for the RACGP assessment leading to FRACGP within five years of registration on the program and
• satisfy ongoing continuing professional development requirements.

Eligible medical practitioners may include:

• non-vocationally recognised Australian trained medical practitioners
• Overseas Trained Doctors and
• Temporary Resident Doctors.

Guidelines and application form

Guidelines (PDF 52 KB)
Application form (PDF 70 KB)

If you are having difficulty downloading the PDF document, please email pacdweb@health.gov.au and we will arrange for a copy to be sent to you.

Contact for more information

If you have any enquiries relating to the status of your application, payments, eligibility, or whether a particular location is eligible for the program, contact Medicare Australia on 1800 032 259.