The Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Rules (No. 1) 2019 (the Amendment Rules) were made on 24 April 2019 and registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 29 April 2019. The Medicare Benefits Schedule related updates commence on 1 May 2019 while the revised commencement date for nursing home type patient updated accommodation benefits and patient contribution commence the day after registration (30 April 2019).
The Amendment Rules incorporate the professional attendance Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items 36504, 36505, 36507 and 36508 into the clinical category kidneys and bladder in Schedule 5 of the Private Health Insurance (Complying Product) Rules 2015 (the Complying Product Rules).
The Amendment Rules also add MBS item numbers 36504, 36505, 36507 and 36508 to clause 5(1) of Schedule 3 and MBS item numbers 63454, 63460, 63496, 63545 and 63546 to clause 8 of Schedule 3 of the Private Health Insurance (Benefit Requirements) Rules 2011.
The inclusion of these MBS items reflect amendments made to the MBS in May 2019.
The Amendment Rules also revise the commencement date for an increase in the minimum benefits payable by private health insurers and the patient contribution per night for nursing home type patients (NHTP) at public hospitals in the Northern Territory from 1 May 2019 to 1 July 2019.
The revised commencement date reflects delays in consequential Northern Territory legislative amendments, as advised by the Northern Territory Department of Health.
If you have any questions regarding PHI Circular 27/19 please contact the Department of Health at PHI@health.gov.au