Medicare access

GP Registrars must ensure that they have access to the GP items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule during the approved training placements that attract Medicare benefits for services provided.  These training placements include:

• GP term placements from months 1-18 undertaken in GP training practices
• Extended Skills placements done in GP training practices
• Some Extended Skills placements done in community settings may require access to the Medicare GP items
• Extension of training while awaiting award of College Fellowship (six months maximum)
• Extension of training after unsuccessful College Examination attempt

For this to be achieved, GP Registrars must have recognition as a General Practitioner at all sites/locations at which they are working as part of the placement, including the main Practice location and any branch Practices or after-hours sites.  Recognition as a general practitioner will be gained by lodgement of the applications for Provider Number and Application for General Practice Registrar Placement to CSQTC at least eight weeks prior to commencement of the placement. Failure to lodge the paperwork in time may result in GP Registrars' Provider Number applications not being approved by Medicare Australia by the commencement of their placement, with the following implications:  

• GP Registrars' patients will not receive reimbursement from Medicare for services provided
• GP Registrars may be committing an offence by providing services for Medicare Benefits if they are not recognised as a General Practitioner and have not advised their patients (applicable to all doctors first registered after 1 January 1996)

GP Registrars should not commence seeing patients whose consultations are to be billed to Medicare Australia unless they have received written confirmation from Medicare Australia that they have an approved Provider Number that has access to the GP Items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.