Maintain your access to Medicare rebates – ensure you’re registered as a Specialist GP with Ahpra from 16 June 2021
Commonwealth changes to the Health Insurance Act 1973 come into effect on 16 June 2021.
These changes mean Services Australia will use Ahpra’s Register of Medical Practitioners to determine GP access to Medicare rebates.
RACGP Fellows need to check they hold specialist registration with Ahpra to ensure their access to Medicare rebates is not interrupted from 16 June.
The RACGP is here to support you through these changes.
You need to take action if you are:
- a Fellow of the RACGP who is not registered as a Specialist GP with Ahpra
- a GP who was previously listed on the Vocational Register who wishes to be re-listed.
You must take action now so that you are listed correctly with Ahpra before the legislative changes take effect.
We have had assurances from Ahpra that the changes will not affect you if you are:
- a Fellow of the RACGP and have registered as a Specialist GP with Ahpra; or
- a GP currently listed on the Vocational Register.
You need take no action; Ahpra has indicated your ongoing access to higher Medicare rebates is secure and not at risk.
Check your Ahpra registration
Need to register as a Specialist GP with Ahpra?
Fellows needing to update their Medial Board of Australia registration need to apply to Ahpra by 17 May 2021 so that their application can be processed by the deadline.
To apply, download and complete an Application for specialist registration (ASPC-30), then submit the form via Ahpra’s online portal.
We have had assurances from Ahpra that you do not need to provide evidence of your RACGP Fellowship, even though this is requested on the form. The college will support you by providing this to Ahpra on your behalf. Simply fill in your fellowship details on the form.
Ahpra will email you once your specialist registration has been granted.
For application queries
Phone Aphra on 1300 419 495 (9.00am–5.00pm, Monday–Friday).
Submit an enquiry online to Ahpra. Select the ‘Register of Practitioners – Specialist’ category from the from the drop-down menu to mark your enquiry as a priority.
Read the FAQs on the Medical Board’s website.
GPs who were previously listed on the Vocational Register
GPs who have previously been listed on the Vocational Register (VR) and wish to be re-listed need to apply for inclusion by 21 May 2021.
There will be no opportunity to return to the VR from 15 June 2021.
To apply for re-entry, first contact the RACGP and confirm you have met the VR pre-conditions. Then submit an Application for Vocational Registration for General Practitioner form to Services Australia by 21 May 2021.
Being re-instated to the VR does not require you to be in active clinical practice. Once added to the VR, you won’t not need to make any subsequent declaration or request to be removed if you are no longer working in general practice.
We’re here to support you
For further information and support, call the RACGP CPD Team on 1800 472 247 or contact us via cpd.national@racgp.org.au.