Overseas Trained Doctors and Foreign Graduates of an Accredited Medical School

Since 1 January 1997, overseas trained doctors (OTDs) and foreign graduates of an accredited medical school (FGAMS) who are working in private practice in Australia are generally subject to the Medicare provider number restrictions contained under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act). Section 19AB of the Act restricts access to Medicare provider numbers and requires OTDs and FGAMS to work in designated districts of workforce shortage (DWS) in order to access Medicare benefits.

For OTDs and FGAMS, scaling is a non-cash incentive offering opportunities to reduce the ten year moratorium restriction period. Time reductions will be significantly greater for those that choose to live and work in more remote areas as described in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) table below. The greatest reward will be for those willing to work in the most remote locations of Australia.

ASGC-RA Classification	ASGC-RA 1 Major Cities	ASGC-RA 2 Inner Regional	ASGC-RA 3 Outer Regional	ASGC-RA 4 Remote	ASGC-RA 5 Very Remote
Period of restriction	10 years	9 years	7 years	6 years	5 years

Further information on scaling for OTDs and FGAMS is available from the Fact Sheet, Frequently Asked Questions and the Scaling Discount Calculators.