Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note GN.2.7

Ten year moratorium

Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 states that services provided by overseas trained doctors (including New Zealand trained doctors) and former overseas medical students trained in Australia, will not attract Medicare benefits for 10 years from either

1. their date of registration as a medical practitioner for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973; or
2. their date of permanent residency (the reference date will vary from case to case).

Exclusions - Practitioners who before 1 January 1997 had

1. registered with a State or Territory medical board and retained a continuing right to remain in Australia; or
2. lodged a valid application with the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to undertake examinations whose successful completion would normally entitle the candidate to become a medical practitioner.

The Minister of Health and Ageing may grant an overseas trained doctor (OTD) or occupational trainee (OT) an exemption to the requirements of the ten year moratorium, with or without conditions. When applying for a Medicare provider number, the OTD or OT must

1. demonstrate that they need a provider number and that their employer supports their request; and
2. provide the following documentation:
   1. Australian medical registration papers; and
   2. a copy of their personal details in their passport and all Australian visas and entry stamps; and
   3. a letter from the employer stating why the person requires a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number is required; and
   4. a copy of the employment contract.

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