Provider Numbers, 3GA programs and Medicare Rebates

You can refer to the General Practice Fellowship Program Placement Guidelines – Fourth edition for an answer to this question.

The PEP ST was designed for Doctors working in Australian Modified Monash (MM) Model areas 2 to 7.

PEP ST participants must have a job, or job offer delivering general practice services within those areas.

The Modified Monash Model is a classification system that better categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size. The system was developed to recognise the challenges in attracting health workers to more remote and smaller communities. You can find the classification of your location by using the Modified Monash Model locator.

You can find out the requirements to be able to access an RACGP Fellowship Program Provider Number, which relates to MMM location, in the General Practice Fellowship Program Placement Guidelines – Fourth edition.

No, unless exceptional circumstances apply or you provide after-hours medical deputising services.

Applications for an Approved Placement – RACGP Fellowship Program (Practice Experience Program) provider number are available for those that meet the following requirements:

• An approved PEP practice position accepted by RACGP medical educators (adequate scope of practice and meeting minimum part-time requirements for weekly hours)
• If applicable, the practice location meets the participant’s obligations under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973

If you’re subject to section 19AB, you’ll need to ensure that your practice location is in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) in order to be eligible for a Medicare provider number.

You can’t move to another practice and maintain your PEP provider number unless the destination practice is in a DPA.

The MMM is a classification system that better categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographic remoteness and town size. The system was developed to recognise the challenges in attracting health workers to more remote and smaller communities. You can find the classification of your location by using the MMM locator.

If you are participating on the Practice Experience Program (PEP) at an AMDS location, the Department of Health will issue a s19AB(3) exemption. This is limited to your participation on the PEP at the requested location, in the after-hours period only.

The 19AB guidelines define after-hours as after 6.00 pm and before 8.00 am on weekdays, from 12.00 pm onwards on Saturday, and all day Sunday and all public holidays.

A note to those participants who are practicing at an Approved Medical Deputising Service (AMDS) location to please review the AMDS guidelines for full details on the implications of working in AMDS, and the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy when applying for a GPE assessment to find out how your time in the AMDS location will be calculated towards comprehensive general practice.

This letter is issued directly from Services Australia or Medicare and outlines your specific provider number, address, exemption/s, and placement start and end date.

You must submit directly to the RACGP. Medicare is not able to process provider number application forms sent to them from PEP participants.

These can take up to 12 weeks to be fully processed by all parties involved.

You can contact ApprovedPlacement@racgp.org.au if you have any questions.

These can take up to 12 weeks to be fully processed by all parties involved.

You can contact ApprovedPlacement@racgp.org.au if you have any questions.

Two provider numbers for regular practices and three for branch practices.

It’s expected that all PEP participants will hold an RACGP Fellowship Program provider number while participating in the program.

International medical graduates (IMGs) who are subject to section 19AB will need to ensure their practice location is in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) in order to be eligible for a Medicare provider number.

You can’t move to another practice and maintain your PEP provider number if your destination practice is not in a DPA.