of the service.
Act, the following particulars are prescribed in
relation to professional services rendered by a
person who has been determined to be a medical
practitioner under subsection 3J(1)
of the Act:
(a) the name and the address of the
medical practitioner;
(b) the provider number of the medical
practitioner.
(1B) For the purposes of subsection 19(6) of
the Act, the particulars prescribed in relation
to professional services rendered by a medical
practitioner other than a medical practitioner
referred to in subregulation (1A) are:
(a) the name and the address of the medical
practitioner; and
(b) the provider number of the medical
practitioner;
contained in the regulations:
1975 definitions
"Provider number" means the number that:
(a) is allocated by the Chief Executive
Medicare to a practitioner, approved pathology
practitioner, optometrist, participating midwife
or participating nurse practitioner; and
(b) identifies the person and the places where
the person practises his or her profession.
"Practice location", for the provision of a
medical service, means the place of practice
in relation to which the medical practitioner
by whom, or on whose behalf, the service is
provided, has been allocated a provider number
by the Chief Executive Medicare.
which itself may indicate that it is not
something that has been of significant
concern to Medicare. However, like so much
of the scheme, the drafting is broad (and
quite inconsistent if you look closely) but the
interpretation is narrow. Have a look at the
following extracts taken from the Medicare
and MBS Online websites, which make clear
the departmental view of the above sections
of the legislation: