AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973

Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – Council of Australian Governments’ Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG s19(2) Exemptions Initiative – Western Australia) Direction (No. 1) 2025

I, Nigel Murray, Assistant Secretary, MBS Policy and Specialist Programs Branch, Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division, Health Resourcing Group, delegate for the Minister for Health and Aged Care, acting under subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973, hereby:

Repeal the Health Insurance (Medicare Benefits Payable in Respect of Professional Services – Council of Australian Governments’ Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG s19(2) Exemptions Initiative – Western Australia) Direction (No. 2) 2024; and
DIRECT that Medicare Benefits shall be payable in respect of:

A professional service (as defined in Section 3 of the Health Insurance Act 1973) which has been agreed to be provided under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Health and Aged Care (ABN:83 605 426 759) and the Department of Health of Western Australia (ABN: 28 684 750 332) dated 1 May 2022 as part of the Council of Australian Governments’ Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG s19(2) Exemptions Initiative relating to primary care services for which:
1. items specified in Schedule A of this Direction; and of the general medical services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973), diagnostic imaging services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4AA(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973) or pathology services table (means the table prescribed under subsection 4A(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973) relates; and
Where the professional service is provided to:
1. an eligible person (as defined in Section 3 of the Health Insurance Act 1973); and
2. a patient who is not part of an episode of hospital treatment (as defined in Section 121-5 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007); and
The professional service referred to in paragraph (2)(a):
1. is provided at an approved Modified Monash Model 5-7 area (as defined in Section 7.1.1 of the general medical services table) practice location specified in Schedule B; and
2. is either:
  1. a professional non-referred service provided by a state remunerated medical practitioner, participating midwife, or participating nurse practitioner; or
  2. a professional referred service provided by a state remunerated allied health professional or dental practitioner.

DECLARE that this Direction commences the day after this instrument is registered and ceases to have effect at the end of 30 June 2025 unless earlier revoked.

Note, a number of expressions used in this direction are defined in the below instruments:

Health Insurance Act 1973: the meaning of dental practitioner, participating midwife, participating nurse practitioner, and professional service; and
Health Insurance (General Medical Services Table) Regulations 2021: the meaning of prescribed medical practitioner.
Health Insurance (Section 3C General Medical Services – Allied Health Services) Determination 2024: the meaning of allied health professional.

Date: 9 January 2025

Nigel Murray

Assistant Secretary

MBS Policy and Specialist Programs Branch

Medicare Benefits and Digital Health Division

Health Resourcing Group

Department of Health and Aged Care

SCHEDULE A

MEDICARE BENEFITS SCHEDULE ITEMS AT Approved Practice Locations AS AGREED under the Council of Australian Governments’ Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG s19(2) Exemptions Initiative – WEStern Australia

For services listed in the below tables, all provisions of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) and regulations made under the Act, and the National Health Act 1953 and regulations made under the National Health Act 1953, relating to medical services, professional services or items apply.

General Medical Services Table

Group	Group Name	Subgroup	Subgroup Name
A1	General practitioner attendances to which no other item applies
A2	Other non‑referred attendances to which no other item applies
A5	Prolonged attendances to which no other item applies
A6	Group therapy
A7	Acupuncture and non‑specialist practitioner items
A9	Contact lenses
A10	Optometric services provided by optometrist
A11	Urgent attendances after—hours
A14	Health assessments
A15	GP management plans, team care arrangements and multidisciplinary care plans and case conferences	1	GP management plans, team care arrangements and multidisciplinary care plans
A17	Domiciliary and residential medication management reviews
A20	Mental health care
A22	General practitioner after‑hours attendances to which no other item applies
A23	Other non‑referred after‑hours attendances to which no other item applies
A27	Pregnancy support counselling
A35	Non‑referred attendance at a residential aged care facility
A40	Telehealth and phone attendance services	1	General practice telehealth services
		2	General practice phone services
		3	Focussed Psychological Strategies telehealth services
		10	Focussed Psychological Strategies phone services
		11	Health Assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People ‑ Telehealth Service
		13	GP management plans, team care arrangements and multidisciplinary care plans via telehealth attendance
		15	GP Pregnancy Support Counselling ‑ Telehealth Service
		16	GP Pregnancy Support Counselling ‑ Phone Service
		19	GP Mental Health Treatment Plan ‑ Telehealth Service
		20	GP Mental Health Treatment Plan ‑ Phone Service
		21	GP Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan – Telehealth Service
		27	Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment Services – Telehealth Service
		28	Eating Disorder Psychological Treatment Strategies – Phone Service
		29	GP and Other Medical Practitioner ‑ Urgent After Hours Service in Unsociable Hours ‑ Telehealth Service
		39	GP Blood Borne Viruses, Sexual or Reproductive Health Consultation – Telehealth Service
		40	GP Blood Borne Viruses, Sexual or Reproductive Health Consultation – Phone Service
M1	Management of bulk‑billed services	1	Management of general bulk‑billed services
		2	General support service
		3	Patients enrolled in MyMedicare
M3	Allied health services
M6	Psychological Therapy Services
M7	Focussed Psychological Strategies (Allied Mental Health)
M8	Pregnancy support counselling
M9	Allied health group services
M10	Complex neurodevelopmental disorder and disability services
M11	Allied health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
M12	Services provided by a practice nurse, an Aboriginal health worker or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of a medical practitioner
M14	Nurse practitioners
M15	Diagnostic audiology services
M16	Eating disorders services
M18	Allied health telehealth and phone services	1	Psychological therapies telehealth services
		2	Psychologist focussed psychological strategies telehealth services
		3	Occupational therapist focussed psychological strategies telehealth services
		4	Social worker focussed psychological strategies telehealth services
		5	Nurse practitioner telehealth services
		6	Psychological therapies phone services
		7	Psychologist focussed psychological strategies phone service
		8	Occupational therapist focussed psychological strategies phone services
		9	Social worker focussed psychological strategies phone services
		10	Nurse practitioner phone services
		11	General allied health telehealth services
		12	General allied health phone services
		13	Pregnancy support counselling telehealth services
		14	Pregnancy support counselling phone services
		15	Complex neurodevelopmental disorder and disability telehealth services
		16	Complex neurodevelopmental disorder and disability phone services
		17	Telehealth attendance to person of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
		18	Phone attendance to person of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
		23	Follow up service provided by a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner – Telehealth Services
		25	Allied health, group dietetics telehealth services
		26	Allied health, group dietetics phone services
T1	Miscellaneous therapeutic procedures	6	Gastroenterology

General Medical Services Table – permitted items

Group	Group Name	Items	Item overview
A15	GP management plans, team care arrangements and multidisciplinary care plans	735, 739, 743, 747-758, 930-945	Case conferences
A29	Attendance services for complex neurodevelopmental disorder or disability	139	Professional attendance by a general practitioner for assessment, diagnosis and preparation of a treatment and management plan for a patient with an eligible disability
A36	Eating disorder services	90250-90257, 90264, 90265, 90271-90282	Eating disorder services provided by General Practitioners or Medical Practitioners
A40	Telehealth and phone attendance services	92142, 92170, 92171, 92176, 92177	General Practitioner and Prescribed Medical Practitioner items
A44	General Practice attendance for assessing patient suitability for a COVID-19 vaccine	93645, 93647, 93654, 93656, 93661, 93666, 10660, 10661	General Practice Attendance for Assessing Patient Suitability for a COVID-19 Vaccine
D1	Miscellaneous diagnostic procedures and investigations	11300-11318, 11505, 11506, 11602-11615, 11707, 11729, 11730, 12001-12004, 12012, 12017, 12200, 12306, 12312, 12315, 12320-12322, 12325, 12326	Non-referred services only
D2	Nuclear medicine (non‑imaging)	12500, 12524, 12527	Nuclear Medicine (non-imaging)
M13	Midwifery services	82100-82115, 82130-82140	Midwifery items
T1	Miscellaneous therapeutic procedures	13105, 14206	Haemodialysis provided by a registered nurse, Aboriginal health worker or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner in a very remote location Hormone or living tissues implantation by cannula
T4	Obstetrics	16400, 16406-16500, 16502-16514, 16530, 16590, 16591, 91850-91858	Antenatal and postnatal attendances
T8	Surgical operations	30003, 30006, 30023, 30026-30055, 30061-30072, 30107, 30192-30207, 30216, 30219, 31356, 32072, 32147, 35503, 41500, 47015, 47042, 47057, 47069, 47301, 47348, 47354, 47361, 47387, 47423, 47444, 47453, 47462, 47466, 47471, 47543, 47561, 47579, 47595, 47663, 47735, 47904, 47915, 47916, 47918	Minor surgical procedures
O1	Consultations	51700-51703, 54001-54004	Dental practitioner attendances

Diagnostic Imaging Services Table

Group	Group Name
I1	ultrasound
I3	diagnostic radiology
I6	management of bulk‑billed services

Pathology Services Table

Group	Group Name
P9	simple basic pathology tests
P12	management of bulk‑billed services
P13	bulk‑billing incentive

SCHEDULE B

Approved Practice Locations AS AGREED under the Council of Australian Governments’ Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG s19(2) Exemptions Initiative – Western Australia

Approved locations and outreach services:

Location	Practice Name	Legal Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
Bayulu (Outreach service of Fitzroy Crossing)	Bayulu Clinic	WA Country Health Service	Lot 10 Lamey Avenue, St Georges Ranges Via Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 27 Bayulu Community Via Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765
Bremer Bay (Outreach service of Ravensthorpe)	Bremer Bay Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	29 John Street Bremer Bay WA 6339	29 John Street Bremer Bay WA 6339
Bridgetown	Bridgetown Hospital	WA Country Health Service	28 Peninsula Road Bridgetown WA 6255	PO Box 136 Bridgetown WA 6255
Burringurrah (Outreach service of Carnarvon)	Burringurrah Nursing Post	WA Country Health Service	Sixth Street Burringurrah Community	C/- PO Box 417 Carnarvon WA 6701
Carnarvon	Carnarvon Hospital	WA Country Health Service	Cleaver Street Carnarvon WA 6701	PO Box 417 Carnarvon WA 6701
Coral Bay (Outreach service of Carnarvon)	Coral Bay Nursing Post	WA Country Health Service	67 Robinson Street Coral Bay WA 6701	67 Robinson Street Coral Bay WA 6701
Denham (Outreach service of Carnarvon)	Shark Bay Silver Chain Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	53 Hughes Street Denham WA 6537	53 Hughes Street Denham WA 6537
Denmark	Denmark Health Service	Western Australia Country Health Service	50 Scotsdale Road Denmark WA 6333	50 Scotsdale Road Denmark WA 6333
Derby	Derby Hospital	WA Country Health Service	67-71 Clarendon Street Derby WA 6728	PMB 938 Derby WA 6728
Esperance	Esperance Health Campus	Western Australia Country Health Service	Hicks St, Esperance WA 6450	PO Box 339, Esperance WA 6450
Exmouth	Exmouth Health Service	WA Country Health Service	Lot 1448 Lyon Street Exmouth WA 6707	Lot 1448 Lyon Street Exmouth WA 6707
Fitzroy Crossing	Fitzroy Crossing Health Service	WA Country Health Service	82 Fallon Road Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 5 Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765
Gascoyne Junction (Outreach service of Carnarvon)	Gascoyne Junction Outreach Clinic	WA Country Health Service	C/- Community Resource Centre Lot 4 Scott Street Gascoyne Junction WA 6705	C/- PO Box 417 Carnarvon WA 6701
Gnowangerup (Outreach service of Katanning)	Gnowangerup Hospital	WA Country Health Service	3493 Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road Gnowangerup WA 6335	3493 Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road Gnowangerup WA 6335
Halls Creek	Halls Creek Hospital	WA Country Health Service	70 Roberta Avenue Halls Creek WA 6770	70 Roberta Ave Halls Creek WA 6770
Jerramungup (Outreach service of Ravensthorpe)	Bremer Bay (Jerramungup) Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	7 Kokoda Road Jerramungup WA 6337	7 Kokoda Road Jerramungup WA 6337
Kalumburu (Outreach service of Kununurra)	Kalumburu Health Clinic	WA Country Health Service	138 Kalumburu Boulevard Kalumburu WA 6740	PMB 12 Via Wyndham WA 6740
Katanning	Katanning Health Service	WA Country Health Service	11-31 Kobeelya Avenue Katanning WA 6317	Katanning Hospital Site Francis Street Katanning WA 6317
Kojonup (Outreach service of Katanning)	Kojonup Hospital	WA Country Health Service	36-50 Spring Street Kojonup WA 6395	36-50 Spring Street Kojonup WA 6395
Kununurra	Kununurra District Hospital	WA Country Health Service	96 Coolibah Drive Kununurra WA 6743	PO Box 239 Kununurra WA 6743
Lombadina (Outreach service of Derby)	Lombadina Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	Lot 404 Lombadina Road Dampier Peninsula WA 6725	PMB 6 Via Broome WA 6725
Looma (Outreach service of Derby)	Looma Clinic	WA Country Health Service	19H Ngaliwanya Street Camballin WA 6728	PMB 903 Via Derby WA 6728
Manjimup	Warren (Manjimup) Health Service	WA Country Health Service	16 Hospital Avenue Manjimup WA 6258	PO Box 179 MANJIMUP WA 6258
Meekatharra	Meekatharra Hospital	WA Country Health Service	Savage Street Meekatharra WA 6642	Savage Street Meekatharra WA 6642
Merredin	Merredin Hospital	WA Country Health Service	Kitchener Road Merredin WA 6415	Kitchener Road Merredin WA 6415
Moora	Moora Health Service	WA Country Health Service	66 Dandaragan Street Moora WA 6510	66 Dandaragan Street Moora WA 6510
Mount Barker	Plantagenet – Cranbrook Health Service	WA Country Health Service	59 Langton Road Mount Barker WA 6324	59 Langton Road Mount Barker WA 6324
Narrogin	Narrogin Hospital	WA Country Health Service	Williams Road Narrogin WA 6312	PO Box 336 Narrogin WA 6312
Nookanbah (Outreach service of Fitzroy Crossing)	Nookanbah Clinic	WA Country Health Service	Nookanbah Community Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 14 Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765
Norseman (Outreach service of Esperance)	Norseman Hospital	Western Australia Country Health Service	1 Talbot St, Norseman WA 6443	1 Talbot St, Norseman WA 6443
One Arm Point	One Arm Point Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	One Arm Point Community 89 One Arm Point Road, Broome WA 6725	PMB 13 Via Broome WA 6725
Onslow	Onslow Hospital	WA Country Health Service	73 Second Avenue Onslow WA 6710	73 Second Avenue Onslow WA 6710
Ravensthorpe	Ravensthorpe Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	Martin Street Ravensthorpe WA 6346	PO Box 53 Ravensthorpe WA 6346
Roebourne	Roebourne District Hospital	Western Australia Country Health Service	42-44 Hampton Street, Roebourne WA 6718	PO Box 81, Roebourne WA 6718
Tambellup (Outreach service of Katanning)	Tambellup Health Centre	WA Country Health Service	30 Norrish Street Tambellup WA 6320	30 Norrish Street Tambellup WA 6320
Useless Loop (Outreach service of Carnarvon)	Useless Loop Medical Centre	WA Country Health Service	1 Wilson Rise Useless Loop WA 6537	1 Wilson Rise Useless Loop WA 6537
Walpole (Outreach service of Roebourne)	Walpole Health Centre	Western Australia Country Health Service	2 Pier St, Walpole WA 6398	2 Pier St, Walpole WA 6398
Wangkatjungka (Outreach service of Fitzroy Crossing)	Wangkatjungka Clinic	WA Country Health Service	Christmas Creek Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 288 Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765
Warmun (Outreach service of Kununurra)	Warmun Health Clinic	WA Country Health Service	Ord Street Warmun WA 6749	Ord Street Warmun WA 6749
Wyndham	Wyndham District Hospital	WA Country Health Service	43 Minderoo Street Wyndham WA 6740	PO Box 230Wyndham WA 6740
Yiyili (Outreach service of Halls Creek)	Yiyili Clinic	WA Country Health Service	Lot 1 Louisa Downs Road Halls Creek WA 6770	PMB 12 Halls Creek WA 6770