Departmental media

Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner Andrea Kelly has released a report to Government, recommending a series of critical reforms to improve aged care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

A pathology provider in New South Wales was ordered to pay the Commonwealth a pecuniary penalty of $1.65 million, along with legal costs of $200,000, for entering into four leasing arrangements that contravened the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act).

The Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner has partnered with the Medical Journal of Australia to produce a special supplement that shines a light on the important role education plays in developing and growing Australia’s regional, rural, and remote health workforce.

A Victorian medical receptionist has been sentenced today to 2 years imprisonment, with a minimum term of 12 months by the Melbourne County Court after pleading guilty to charging more than $181,000 in fraudulent Medicare payments.

A pharmacist has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment today, after pleading guilty to fraudulently claiming more than $1.9 million in payments under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

A Pharmacist and Practice Manager from across Australia were sentenced last week after fraudulently claiming more than $420,000 in payments under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

A medical receptionist from south-eastern Queensland has been convicted after fraudulently claiming more than $253,000 in Medicare payments.

A NSW pharmacist has been sentenced to two years imprisonment yesterday after pleading guilty to defrauding taxpayers of almost $290,000.

A Cairns woman has been convicted after pleading guilty to fraudulently claiming more than $178,000 in Medicare payments.

Former NSW pharmacist sentenced to imprisonment for his role in conspiring to defraud taxpayers more than $19 million.

Australia’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sonya Bennett, has declared the unfolding situation in Australia concerning the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) has been detected in piggeries in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

More than 86% of fully vaccinated Australians can show their COVID-19 vaccination status on various Match Group apps now and through Snapchat, later this week.

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly about the recommencement of flights from New Zealand to Australia.

The Australian Government is taking further steps to support and strengthen the health system as we open up to living with COVID-19 under phases B and C of the National Plan to transition Australia's National COVID Response, as agreed by National Cabinet.

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, about Australian children returning from overseas.

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, about New Zealand green zone flights due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand.

Medicare items and services will be reviewed by experts on an ongoing basis to ensure the Medicare Schedule remains contemporary and provides universal access to the best technologies and services under new arrangements introduced by the Australian Government.

A statement from Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly about the pause on New Zealand green zone flights.

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has widened the Sydney COVID-19 Hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support to Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong and extended the Hotspot to 9 July 2021.

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has extended the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick as a COVID-19 Hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support until 2 July 2021.

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has today declared the local government areas of City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick a COVID-19 Hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support, for an initial period of 7 days.

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, extended the Greater Melbourne Area a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support until 10 June 2021.

A media release from the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre regarding a second positive case at Arcare Maidstone.

The Australian Government Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has today declared the Greater Melbourne area a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of Commonwealth support for 7 days.