PHI 14/22 Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 3) 2022

Nursing Home Type Patient (NHTP) accommodation indexation, 20 March 2022.

Date published:
PHI circular type:
PHI announcement
Audience:
Health sector

The Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 3) 2022 (the Amendment Rules) amend the Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2011 (the Benefit Requirements Rules) and the Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2015 (the Complying Product Rules).

The Amendment Rules were registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 11 March 2022 and commence on 20 March 2022.

NHTP contributions and minimum insurer benefits are indexed by the Commonwealth twice annually, on 20 March and 20 September. Jurisdictions are consulted on changes to rates in public hospitals. Some jurisdictions apply changes to NHTP rates and benefits on 1 July, annually.

Patient contribution

The Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2015 (Part 2 – 8A(3) Benefit requirement – nursing-home type patients) establish the statutory minimum daily patient contribution rate payable by a NHTP in hospitals.

From 20 March 2022, the daily patient contribution rate payable by NHTP will be:

  • $65.40 in private hospitals
  • rates for public hospitals are in Table 1, below.

Table 1. Daily patient contribution rate payable by NHTP at public hospitals from 20 March 2022

Public hospital: State/Territory

Daily patient contribution rate payable by a NHTP

Australian Capital Territory

$63.05

New South Wales

$64.05

Northern Territory

$65.40

Queensland

$65.40

South Australia

$65.40

Tasmania

$65.40

Victoria

$65.40

Western Australia

$65.40

Minimum benefit payable by private health insurers for NHTP

The Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2011 (Schedule 4 – Nursing-home type patient accommodation: hospitals in all States/Territories, Clause 6, Tables 1 and 2) establish the minimum benefit payable per night by private health insurers for NHTP in hospitals.

From 20 March 2022, the minimum benefit payable by insurers for NHTP will be:

  • $45.70 in private hospitals
  • benefits for public hospitals are in Table 2, below.

Table 2. Minimum benefit payable per night by private health insurers for NHTP

Public hospital: State/Territory

Minimum NHTP benefit payable by insurer per night  

Australian Capital Territory

$133.00

New South Wales

$140.10

Northern Territory

$138.35

Queensland

$137.50

South Australia

$126.00

Tasmania

$156.95

Victoria

$140.00

Western Australia

$136.75

Further details on the amendments are included in the Explanatory Statement accompanying the Amendment Rules available on the Federal Register of Legislation at www.legislation.gov.au by searching ‘Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 3) 2022’.