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Determinations/Health as made
This instrument determines the kinds of collaborative arrangments with the kinds of medical practitioners that an eligible nurse practitioner must participate in when providing nurse practitioner treatment in order to satisfy the definition of 'authorised nurse practitioner'.
Administered by: Health and Aged Care
Registered 16 Jul 2010
Tabling HistoryDate
Tabled HR28-Sep-2010
Tabled Senate28-Sep-2010
Date of repeal 29 Sep 2022
Repealed by National Health (Collaborative Arrangements for Nurse Practitioners) Instrument 2022

I, NICOLA ROXON, Minister for Health and Ageing, make this Determination under subsection 84 (1) of the National Health Act 1953.

Dated 14 July 2010

 

NICOLA ROXON


Contents

Part 1                    Preliminary

                        1     Name of Determination                                                                         2

                        2     Commencement                                                                                  2

                        3     Definitions                                                                                           2

                        4     Specified medical practitioners                                                             3

Part 2                    Collaborative arrangements

                        5     Collaborative arrangements — general                                                   4

                        6     Agreement between eligible nurse practitioner and 1 or more specified medical practitioners      4

                        7     Arrangement — nurse practitioner’s written records                                4

 

 


Part 1                 Preliminary

  

1              Name of Determination

                This Determination is the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for nurse practitioners) Determination 2010.

2              Commencement

                This Determination commences on the later of the following:

                (a)    1 July 2010;

               (b)    the day after it is registered.

3              Definitions

                In this Determination:

Act means the National Health Act 1953.

collaborative arrangement means a collaborative arrangement mentioned in section 5.

consultant physician has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

medical practitioner has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

specialist has the meaning given by subsection 3 (1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

specified medical practitioner means a medical practitioner mentioned in section 4.

4              Specified medical practitioners

                For the definition of authorised nurse practitioner in subsection 84 (1) of the Act, all kinds of medical practitioner are specified.

Part 2                 Collaborative arrangements

  

5              Collaborative arrangements — general

         (1)   For the definition of authorised nurse practitioner in subsection 84 (1) of the Act, each of the following is a kind of collaborative arrangement for an eligible nurse practitioner:

                (a)    the nurse practitioner is employed or engaged by 1 or more specified medical practitioners, or by an entity that employs or engages 1 or more specified medical practitioners;

               (b)    a patient is referred, in writing, to the nurse practitioner for treatment by a specified medical practitioner;

                (c)    an agreement mentioned in section 6 for the nurse practitioner;

               (d)    an arrangement mentioned in section 7 for the nurse practitioner.

         (2)   For subsection (1), the arrangement must provide for:

                (a)    consultation between the nurse practitioner and a medical practitioner; and

               (b)    referral of a patient to a medical practitioner; and

                (c)    transfer of a patient’s care to a medical practitioner.

         (3)   A collaborative arrangement, other than an arrangement mentioned in section 7, may apply to more than 1 patient.

         (4)   However, an acknowledgement mentioned in paragraph 7 (1) (c) may apply for more than 1 patient.

6              Agreement between eligible nurse practitioner and 1 or more specified medical practitioners

         (1)   An agreement may be made between:

                (a)    an eligible nurse practitioner; and

               (b)    1 or more specified medical practitioners.

         (2)   The agreement must be in writing and signed by the eligible nurse practitioner and the other parties mentioned in paragraph (1) (b).

7              Arrangement — nurse practitioner’s written records

         (1)   An eligible nurse practitioner must record the following for a patient in the nurse practitioner’s written records:

                (a)    the name of at least 1 specified medical practitioner who is, or will be, collaborating with the nurse practitioner in the patient’s care (a named medical practitioner);

               (b)    that the nurse practitioner has told the patient that the nurse practitioner will be providing services to the patient in collaboration with 1 or more specified medical practitioners in accordance with this section;

                (c)    acknowledgement by a named medical practitioner that the practitioner will be collaborating in the patient’s care;

               (d)    plans for the circumstances in which the nurse practitioner will do any of the following:

                          (i)    consult with a medical practitioner;

                         (ii)    refer the patient to a medical practitioner;

                         (iii)    transfer the patient’s care to a medical practitioner;

                (e)    any consultation or other communication between the nurse practitioner and a medical practitioner about the patient’s care;

                (f)    any transfer by the nurse practitioner of the patient’s care to a medical practitioner;

                (g)    any referral of the patient by the nurse practitioner to a medical practitioner;

                (h)    if the nurse practitioner gives a copy of a document mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) to a named medical practitioner — when the copy is given;

                 (i)    if the nurse practitioner gives a copy of a document mentioned in subsection (4) or (5) to the patient’s usual general practitioner — when the copy is given.

         (2)   If the nurse practitioner refers the patient to a specialist or consultant physician, or if the nurse practitioner requests diagnostic imaging or pathology services for the patient, the nurse practitioner must give a copy of the referral, or the results of the services, to a named medical practitioner if:

                (a)    the nurse practitioner:

                          (i)    consults with the named medical practitioner; or

                         (ii)    refers the patient to the named medical practitioner; or

                         (iii)    transfers the patient’s care to the named medical practitioner; and

               (b)    the named medical practitioner asks the nurse practitioner for a copy of the referral or results.

         (3)   Also, the nurse practitioner must give a named medical practitioner a record of the services provided by the nurse practitioner to the patient if:

                (a)    the nurse practitioner:

                          (i)    consults with the named medical practitioner; or

                         (ii)    refers the patient to the named medical practitioner; or

                         (iii)    transfers the patient’s care to the named medical practitioner; and

               (b)    the named medical practitioner asks the nurse practitioner for the record.

         (4)   If the nurse practitioner refers the patient to a specialist or consultant physician, or requests diagnostic imaging or pathology services for the patient, and the patient’s usual general practitioner is not a named medical practitioner, the nurse practitioner must give a copy of the referral, or the results of the services, to the patient’s usual general practitioner.

         (5)   Also, if the patient’s usual general practitioner is not a named medical practitioner, the nurse practitioner must give the patient’s usual general practitioner a record of the services provided by the nurse practitioner to the patient.

         (6)   However, subsections (4) and (5) apply only if the patient consents.

         (7)   In this section:

usual general practitioner, for a patient, includes a medical practitioner nominated by the patient.


Note

1.       All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.