STATUTORY RULES

1971 No.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953-1971.*

I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Health Act 1953-1971.

Dated this twenty-fifth day of October, 1971.

Paul Hasluck

Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Minister of State for Health.

AMENDMENTS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH (PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS) REGULATIONS†

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the first day of November, 1971.

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 1971.

† Statutory Rules 1960, No. 17, as amended to date. For previous amendments of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations see footnote † to Statutory Rules 1971, No. 44, and see also Statutory Rules 1971, Nos.44 and 101.

Writing of prescriptions.

2. Regulation 19 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations is amended by inserting in paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (1.), after the word “pensioner”, the words “or the prescription is marked in accordance with the next succeeding regulation”.

3. After regulation 19 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations the following regulation is inserted:-

Marking of prescription in respect of subsidized beneficiary.

“19A.-(1.) For the purposes of the definition of ‘the appropriate maximum amount’ in sub-section (1.) of section 84 of the Act, a prescription written by a medical practitioner is marked as a prescription in respect of a subsidized beneficiary if-

(a) in the case of a prescription for the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit to a subsidized beneficiary in respect of whom a Subsidized Health Benefits Entitlement Certificate issued by the Commonwealth is in force - the letters ‘S.H.B.’ followed by the serial number appearing on that certificate are written on the prescription by the medical practitioner; or

(b) in the case of a prescription for the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit to a subsidized beneficiary who is a dependant, or the dependant of a dependant, of a subsidized beneficiary in respect of whom a Subsidized Health Benefits Entitlement Certificate issued by the Commonwealth is in force - the letters ‘S.H.B.’ followed by the serial number appearing on the certificate are written on the prescription by the medical practitioner.

“(2.) In this regulation, ‘Subsidized Health Benefits Entitlement Certificate’ includes Subsidised Medical Services Entitlement Certificate.”.