Work as a Doctor in Australia
Section19AB factsheet
The Workforce Regulation Information HOTLINE wil close on 5 May
2008
For information on section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973
please contact 19AB@health.gov.au
Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973
What is section 19AB of the Act?
Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) restricts access to Medicare provider numbers and requires overseas trained doctors to work in a district of workforce shortage (DWS) for a minimum period of ten years, in order to access the Medicare benefits arrangements.
Overseas trained doctor: means a person whose primary medical qualification was not obtained from a medical school located in Australia.
Former overseas medical student means a person:
- whose primary medical qualification was obtained from a medical school located in Australia; and
- who was not a permanent resident or an Australian citizen when he or she first enrolled at a medical school located in Australia.
New Zealand permanent resident and/or citizen means you are considered to be a temporary resident of Australia under the Migration Act 1958. A medical practitioner whose primary medical qualification is from a medical school located in New Zealand is also considered to be an overseas trained doctor under the Act.
This is an issue that can be very confusing for New Zealanders as the Citizenship Act 1948 gives New Zealanders access to many of the same rights as Australian citizens and permanent residents.
How do I know if I am an overseas trained doctor or former overseas medical student to which section 19AB of the Act applies?
If you are:
- an overseas trained doctor; or
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; or
- a former overseas medical student (a temporary resident when you first enrolled in medical school in Australia); and were first registered with an Australian State or Territory medical board on or after 1 January 1997
The Act sets out the basic tests to determine whether a doctor is restricted by section 19AB of the Act.
- If you are:
- an overseas trained doctor; or
- a former overseas medical student who gained their first medical registration or became a permanent resident/citizen before 1 January 1997; and you applied to the Australian Medical Council (AMC) before 1 January 1997 and you were eligible to sit the AMC exam
- If you are:
- an overseas trained doctor; or
- a former overseas medical student who gained their first medical registration or became a permanent resident/citizen on or after 1 January 1997
- If you are:
- an overseas trained doctor; or
- a former overseas medical student who gained their first medical registration on or after
then you are considered restricted by section 19AB of the Act for a minimum period of ten years from the date you achieved both medical registration and permanent residency/citizenship of Australia.
What is the “ten year moratorium”?
This is the short hand name that is frequently applied to the restrictions under section 19AB of the Act.
If section 19AB of the Act applies to me, how do I gain access to the Medicare benefits arrangements?
You will need to apply for a section 19AB exemption which is approved by the Department of Health and Ageing. To do this, you will need to apply for a Medicare provider number from Medicare Australia who will apply to the Department for a section 19AB exemption on your behalf.
The application form for a Medicare provider number (for a medical practitioner) is available online at the following website:
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pubs/medicare-forms/index.shtml
Contact information
Department of Health and Ageing
Workforce Regulation Section
Phone: (02) 6289 5903
Fax: (02) 6289 1352
or
The Assistant Director
Workforce Regulation Section
MDP 50
Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Medicare Australia
132 150 (all states) or medicare.prov@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Last updated 3/04/2008