On Nov. 21, AST GVT amended rules to index EMSN benefit caps.
AST GVT issued Health insurance (extended medicare safety net) amendment (indexation) determination 2021 to index fixed dollar amount EMSN benefit caps.
Purpose
New determination amended the Health insurance (extended medicare safety net) determination 2017 to index the EMSN benefit caps that are a fixed dollar amount.
Prescribed that, from Jan. 1, 2022, all EMSN benefit caps of a fixed dollar amount will be substituted by a new value which has been indexed by the consumer price index.
Fixed EMSN benefits caps were increased by 3.0% (annual CPI as reported in the Sep. quarter 2021); indexing EMSN benefit caps will provide a greater benefit for patients.
Effectiveness
Sections 1 to 4 are in force on Nov. 22, 2021; Schedule 1 on Jan. 1, 2022.
Feb. 18, 2022 6th Compilation
On Feb. 18, 2022, AST GVT published registered compilation no. 6, dated Jan. 1, 2022 on Health Insurance (Extended Medicare Safety Net) Determination 2017 as amended.
Made under section 10B, Health Insurance Act 1973, outlines law text amendments in force Jan. 1, 2022, endnotes contain amendment history of compiled law provisions.
Nov. 2022 Indexation
On Nov. 14, 2022, AST GVT published the Health insurance (extended medicare safety net) amendment (indexation) determination 2022in the federal register.
Amends the 2017 EMSN determination noted above, to provide additional benefit for those incurring high out-of-pocket costs for Medicare eligible out-of-hospital services.
Also repeals the Health insurance (extended medicare safety net) amendment (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation capping) determination 2021.
The determination comes into force in accordance with clause 2, on specified dates which are contingent on the instrument being approved by each House of Parliament.
It amends Health insurance (extended medicare safety net) determination 2017.
To index the fixed dollar EMSN benefit cap of 86 items by 2.8% to provide greater benefit for patients, and add EMSN benefit caps to two items for cleft dental services.
In addition, it added 24 items commonly co-claimed with varicose vein surgery.
Sections 1 to 4 of the amendment determination commence the later of the day after it is registered, and the day after it has been approved by each House of Parliament.
As for schedule 1 of the amendment determination, it commences the later of Jan. 1, 2025 and the day after it has been approved by each House of Parliament.
