How do I use the ASCII file?
The ASCII file is a text file and the ASCII Specifications provides information on the structure of this file.
ASCII file Specifications
- PDF version of the ASCII Specifications effective 1 January 2010 (PDF 26 KB)
- PDF version of the current ASCII Specifications prior to January 2010 (PDF 25kb)
- PDF version of the ASCII Specifications prior to November 2005 to download (PDF 22 KB)
Specifications
The data is provided in a number of record types per item number:| Record type | Description | Mandatory/Optional |
| 10 | Item details | Mandatory |
| 20 | Fee details | Mandatory if the item is a normal item |
| 25 | Extended Medicare Safety Net | Optional |
| 30 | Derived fee details | Mandatory if the item is a derived fee item |
| 40 | Anaesthetic details | Optional |
| 50 | Description details | Mandatory |
For each item there will be:
- 1 item details record
- 1 fee details record OR a number of derived fee detail records describing the manner in which the fee is calculated
- 1 anaesthetic detail record (optional)
- a number of description detail records describing the service. The item description will be the full description of the service that appears in the Regulations of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
Record Specifications
LEGENDA – Alphanumeric
N – Numeric
M – Mandatory
O – Optional
Record Type 10 – Item Details Record
| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2M | 10 |
| Item# | N5M | Item number |
| Sub-item # | N3 O | Sub-item number for precedent items (ie 30000 items) |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date item commenced |
| End date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy O | Date item ceased |
| Category | A3 M | The Category the item relates to |
| Group | A3 M | The Group the items relates to |
| Subgroup | A3 M | The Subgroup the item relates to |
| Item type | A1 M | The item type (ie S for standard, P for precedent or D for Ministerial Determination) |
| Fee type | A1 M | N – Normal fee D – Derived fee |
| Provider type | A3 O | the provider category applicable to the item |
| New item indicator | A1 O | Y – if the item is a new item |
| Item change indicator | A1 O | Y – if the item number changed |
| Anaesthetic change | A1 O | Y – if a change has occurred in the Indicator - anaesthetic units |
| Descriptor change | A1 O | Y – if a change has occurred in the Item indicator description |
| Fee change indicator | A1 O | Y – if a change has occurred in the fee |
| 100% Benefit indicator | A1 O | A – benefit paid at 75% only B - benefit paid at 85% only C - benefit paid at 75% & 85% D - benefit paid at 75% & 100% E - benefit paid at 100% |
| Benefit Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy | Date which benefit level/s changed |
Record Type 20 – Fee Details Record
This record must be present if the item is a normal fee item (Fee type “N”)| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2 | 20 |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date current Schedule fee commenced |
| Schedule fee | N5.2 M | The Schedule fee |
| Benefit 1 | N5.2 M | The 75% benefit |
| Benefit 2 | N5.2 M | The 85% benefit |
| Benefit 3 | N5.2 M | The 100% benefit |
Record Type 25 – Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) Details Record
This record must be present if the item has an Extended Medicare Safety Net Cap| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2 | 25 |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date EMSN cap commenced |
| EMSN Cap end date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy O | Date the EMSN cap ended |
| Cap amount | N5.2 M | EMSN Cap |
| Cap change date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy O | EMSN Cap change date |
| Cap change indicator | A1 O | Y – if a change has occurred to the cap |
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Record Type 30 – Derived Fee Details Record
Records of this type must be present if the item is derived fee item (Fee type “D”)| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2 M | 30 |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date current derived fee commenced |
| Description | A80 M | Derived fee description |
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Record Type 40 – Anaesthetic Details Record
| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2 M | 40 |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date current anaesthetic details commenced |
| Anaesthetic indicator | A8 M | (Anaes.) – indicates that item attracts an anaesthetic |
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Record Type 50 – Description Details Record
| Field | Format | Description |
| Record type | N2 M | 50 |
| Start date | A10 dd.mm.yyyy M | Date current description commenced |
| Description | A80 M | Item description (as appears in the Regulations of the Health Insurance Act 1973) |
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Provider types
| Provider type | Description |
| AD | Accredited Dental Practitioner |
| AO | Accredited Orthodontist |
| AOS | Approved Oral Surgeon |
| C | Computerised facilities |
| G | General Practitioner |
| HR | Hospital Recognised |
| NC | Non-computerised facilities |
| OP | Other (non-specialist pathologist) |
| S | Specialist |
| SP | Specialist Pathologist |
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This page was last updated 7 December 2009.
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