Section 19 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) sets out various circumstances under which Medicare benefits are not payable for professional services. In some cases, service providers can be exempt from elements of Section 19 where the Minister for Health directs.
Section 19(2) prohibits the payment of Medicare benefits where other government funding is provided for that service. Section 19(5) prohibits payment of Medicare benefits for population screening (where the examination or test is not reasonably required for the management of the patient’s medical condition).
The Minister for Health has issued Directions to ACCHS funded under the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme (IAHP) to allow Medicare billing. Access to Medicare billing is allowed in recognition of the right of all Australians to access Medicare, and that the cost of providing comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities is substantially higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.
Eligibility
ACCHS that are funded under the IAHP to provide comprehensive primary health care are eligible. The following 123 organisations are listed under the current Directions:
| State/Territory |
Organisation name |
ACT |
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service |
NSW |
Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Ltd |
Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service |
|
Armajun Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Awabakal Ltd |
|
Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre |
|
Bourke Aboriginal Health Service |
|
Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service |
|
Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Cummeragunja Housing & Development Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service |
|
Galambila Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service Inc |
|
Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Community and Medical Services |
|
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Orange Aboriginal Medical Service Inc |
|
Pius X Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation |
|
South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
South Coast Women’s Health & Welfare Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda) |
|
Tamworth Aboriginal Health Service |
|
Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Ltd |
|
Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service |
|
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Ltd |
|
Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation Inc |
|
Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service |
|
Werin Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Yerin Aboriginal Health Services Inc (Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre) |
|
NT |
Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation |
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Bagot Community Health Centre |
|
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Danila Dilba Health Services |
|
Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Mala’la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association |
|
Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Ngaanyatjarra Health Services |
|
Nganampa Health Council Inc |
|
Pintupi Homelands Health Service |
|
Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Wurli-Wurlinjang Aboriginal Corporation |
|
QLD |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Ltd |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay Ltd |
|
Apunipima Cape York Health Council Ltd |
|
Bidgerdii Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service |
|
Carbal Medical Services |
|
Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Ltd |
|
Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service |
|
Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health |
|
Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare Services Ltd |
|
Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation |
|
Gladstone Region Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service |
|
Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Corporation |
|
Goondir Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Service |
|
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Ltd |
|
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Ltd |
|
Kalwun Health Service |
|
Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health |
|
Mamu Health Service Ltd |
|
Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Corporation) |
|
Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Ltd (Gidgee Healing) |
|
Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service |
|
North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health |
|
NPA Family and Community Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation |
|
Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services |
|
Wuchopperen Health Service Ltd |
|
Yulu-Burri Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health |
|
SA |
Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Inc |
Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc |
|
Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Oak Valley (Maralinga) Inc |
|
Pangula Mannamurna Inc |
|
Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Inc |
|
Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc |
|
Tullawon Health Service Inc |
|
Umoona Tjutjagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation |
|
TAS |
Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Inc |
South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Inc |
|
VIC |
Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative |
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Budja-Budja Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-operative Ltd - Bunurong Health Services |
|
Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc |
|
First Peoples Health and Wellbeing |
|
Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd |
|
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Kirrae Health Service Inc |
|
Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Services Association |
|
Mallee District Aboriginal Services Ltd |
|
Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Inc |
|
Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Njernda Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd |
|
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-operative |
|
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative |
|
Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation |
|
WA |
Bega Garnbirringu Health Services Inc |
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service |
|
Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Derby Aboriginal Health Service Council Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service |
|
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council Inc |
|
Mawarnkarra Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Medical Services |
|
Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
South-West Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
|
Yura Yungi Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation |
Further information
If you have any questions about this information, please contact mailto:IHD192enquiries@health.gov.au">IHD192enquiries@health.gov.au.