Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note MN.12.1

Item 10988 can only be claimed by a medical practitioner where an immunisation is provided to a patient by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner on behalf of the medical practitioner. 

Item 10988 can be claimed only once per patient visit, even if more than one vaccine is administered during the same patient visit. 

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner means a person who has been registered as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia and meets the Board's registration standards. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner must be employed or retained by a general practice, or by a health service that has an exemption to claim Medicare benefits under subsection 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973. 

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner may use any of the titles authorised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board: Aboriginal health practitioner; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner; or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner. 

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner must be appropriately qualified and trained to provide immunisations.  This includes compliance with any territory requirements. 

The medical practitioner under whose supervision the immunisation is provided retains responsibility for the health, safety and clinical outcomes of the patient. 

Supervision may include distance supervision where the medical practitioner does not have to be physically present at the time that the service is provided by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner, but should be able to be contacted for advice if required. 

The immunisation must be performed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner  in accordance with the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook and the Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association (CARPA) Standard Treatment Manual. 

Immunisation means the administration of a registered vaccine to a patient for any purpose other than as part of a mass immunisation of persons. 

A registered vaccine means a vaccine that is included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.  This includes all vaccines on the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule and vaccines covered in the current edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook.  The following substances cannot be claimed under this item: vaccines used experimentally; homeopathic substances; immunotherapy for allergies (eg de-sensitisation preparations); and other substances that are not vaccines.  There may also be territory limitations on the administration of some vaccines, such as those for tuberculosis, yellow fever and Q-fever. 

All GPs whether vocationally registered or not are eligible to claim this item.  District Medical Officers (DMOs) employed by the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services are also eligible to claim this item. 

Where the medical practitioner provides a professional attendance to the patient (in addition to the immunisation service provided by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner), the medical practitioner may also claim for the professional attendance they provide to the patient. 

Item 10991 can also be claimed in conjunction with item 10988 provided the conditions of both items are satisfied. 

Related Items: 10988

Related Items: 10988

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Immunisation provided to a person by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner if:

(a)    the immunisation is provided on behalf of, and under the supervision of, a medical practitioner; and

(b)    the person is not an admitted patient of a hospital.

Fee: $13.20 Benefit: 100% = $13.20

(See para MN.12.1 of explanatory notes to this Category)