Recognition as a specialist

There are 2 types of specialist recognition in Australia. They are:

• recognition by an Australian Specialist Medical College of an OTS’s qualifications as being equivalent to those of an Australian trained specialist currently entering the workforce; and


• recognition as a specialist by Medicare Australia for Medicare billing purposes.

The first one relates to your medical registration and allows you to practise independently/unsupervised as a specialist in Australia. You can find more information about this kind of recognition on DoctorConnect under standard pathway for specialist assessment in Australia. You can also find information on the Area of Need assessment pathway for specialists in DoctorConnect, however, OTSs should note that the Area of Need pathway does not provide full specialist recognition in Australia.

The second kind of recognition allows a specialist to provide services that attract a higher ‘specialist’ rebate under Medicare. This is explained in more detail below.

For some kinds of medical services, Medicare requires that the service be provided by a doctor who has been formally recognised as a specialist, and that another doctor has referred the patient to the specialist. Most access to specialist medical services is on referral from general practitioners (GPs/family physicians). If these requirements are not met, either no Medicare benefit is payable or the benefit is lower.

So, to be allowed to provide medical services that qualify for Medicare rebates at the higher specialist or consultant physician rates, an OTS must have specialist recognition from Medicare Australia.

A specialist can see both referred and non-referred patients. A consultant physician must have a wholly referred patient base and can provide services that attract a higher rebate.

Temporary and permanent resident OTSs are treated slightly differently under these arrangements and details of application processes for recognition as a specialist for Medicare billing purposes can be found on Medicare Australia's website.

For further information on specialist recognition for Medicare billing purposes, phone Medicare Australia on +61 2 6124 6028 (international) or (02) 6124 6939 (in Australia) or email srac@medicare australia.gov.au.