Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973: Factsheet
Section 19AB of the Act restricts access to Medicare benefits and requires overseas trained doctors (OTDs) and foreign graduates of accredited medical schools (FGAMS) to work in a district of workforce shortage (DWS) for 10 years from their first Australian medical registration in order to access Medicare benefits arrangements.
All section 19AB exemptions are location specific. Make sure you apply for a new section 19AB exemption and Medicare provider number for each location from which you intend to provide medical services.
Important information for Australians who trained in New Zealand and New Zealand permanent resident or citizen doctors
If you were a New Zealand permanent resident or citizen, and you studied at an Australian Medical Council (AMC) accredited medical school in New Zealand or Australia when you enrolled in your primary medical degree, you are no longer subject to s19AB of the Act.
If you were an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and you studied at an AMC accredited medical school in New Zealand when you enrolled in your primary medical degree, you are no longer subject to s19AB of the Act.
Doctors who aren’t subject to section 19AB remain subject to section 19AA of the Act and must be:
If you were an Australian permanent resident or citizen, and you studied at an AMC accredited medical school in New Zealand when you enrolled in your primary medical degree, you are no longer subject to s19AB of the Act.
Doctors who aren’t subject to section 19AB remain subject to section 19AA of the Act and must be:
- a recognised general practitioner, specialist or consultant physician for Medicare purposes
- in an approved program placement under section 3GA of the Act
10 year moratorium
OTDs and FGAMS must work in a District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) generally for a period of 10 years. This is commonly referred to as ‘the 10 year moratorium’.
An OTD’s or FGAMS’ 10 year moratorium begins when they gain their first medical registration in Australia.
If a doctor hasn’t obtained Australian permanent residency or citizenship by the end of the 10-year moratorium, they’ll still need a section 19AB exemption in order to continue to access Medicare benefits arrangements.
An OTD’s or FGAMS’ 10 year moratorium begins when they gain their first medical registration in Australia.
If a doctor hasn’t obtained Australian permanent residency or citizenship by the end of the 10-year moratorium, they’ll still need a section 19AB exemption in order to continue to access Medicare benefits arrangements.
Timeframes for processing of exemption applications
The Department has a statutory timeframe of 28 days to process section 19AB exemptions once they’re received from Medicare Australia. This timeframe ensures that applications are processed before the doctor’s first day of employment.
Once the Department has processed your section 19AB exemption, it is sent back to Medicare Australia so they can process your Medicare provider number application.
Once the Department has processed your section 19AB exemption, it is sent back to Medicare Australia so they can process your Medicare provider number application.
Contact information
Department of Health and Ageing
Workforce Regulation Section
Email: 19AB@health.gov.au
or
Medicare Australia
Phone: 132 150 (all States)
Email: medicare.prov@humanservices.gov.au
Workforce Regulation Section
Email: 19AB@health.gov.au
or
Medicare Australia
Phone: 132 150 (all States)
Email: medicare.prov@humanservices.gov.au