STATUTORY RULES.

1962. No. 70.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT 1953-1961.*

I, THE ADMINISTRATOR of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the National Health Act 1953-1961.

Dated this ninth day of August, 1962.

DALLAS BROOKS

Administrator.

By His Excellency’s Command,

Sgd. H. W. WADE

Minister of State for Health.

Amendments of the National Health Regulations.†

Commencement.

1. These Regulations shall come into operation on the twentieth day of August, 1962.

Parts.

2. Regulation 2 of the National Health Regulations is amended by omitting the words and figures—

“Division 1.—Patients in Public Hospitals in Territories (Regulations 5-6).”

and inserting in their stead the words and figures—

“Division 1.—Patients in Public Hospitals in the Territories (Regulations 5-6).

“Division 1a.—Patients in Public Hospitals in the States (Regulations 6a-6d).”.

3. After regulation 6 of the National Health Regulations the following Division is inserted:—

“Division 1a.—Patients in Public Hospitals in the States.

Definitions.

“6a. In this Division—

‘non-contributing qualified patient’ means a qualified patient who is not a contributor;

‘pensioner’ includes a dependant of a pensioner

* Notified in the Commonwealth Gazette on 16th August, 1962.

† Statutory Rule 1954, No. 35 as amended by Statutory Rules 1957, No. 71; 1958, No 63; and 1962, No.              .

4863 62.—Price 3d. 9/27.7.1962.

Hospital benefits.

“6b.—(1.) There is payable to a State (other than the State of South Australia) with which there is not for the time being in force an agreement entered into by that State in pursuance of section 40 of the Act—

(a) in respect of each pensioner who is a non-contributing qualified patient in a public hospital, other than a benevolent home, in that State—a hospital benefit at the rate of Twelve shillings per day; and

(b) in respect of each person who is a qualified patient in a public hospital in that State and to whom the last preceding paragraph does not apply—a hospital benefit at the rate of Eight shillings per day,

for each day on which that person is a qualified patient in that public hospital.

“(2.) There is payable to the State of South Australia, if there is not for the time being in force an agreement entered into by that State in pursuance of section 40 of the Act—

(a) in respect of—

(i) each person who is a non-contributing qualified patient in a non-public ward of a public hospital for the purpose of which there is payable under Part IV. of the Hospitals Act, 1934-1961 of that State by the municipal or district council of the area served by the hospital a contribution equivalent to not less than Six shillings per day in respect of each bed occupied each day in such a ward of the hospital during the period for which that person is a qualified patient; and

(ii) each pensioner who is a non-contributing qualified patient in a public ward of a public hospital to which the last preceding sub-paragraph applies, or in any bed in any other public hospital in that State that is not a benevolent home,

a hospital benefit at the rate of Twelve shillings per day;

(b) in respect of each person who is a qualified patient in a public hospital in that State and to whom the last preceding paragraph does not apply—a hospital benefit at the rate of Eight shillings per day,

for each day on which that person is a qualified patient in the public hospital.

Hospital benefit to be deducted from hospital fees.

“6c.—(1.) A hospital benefit under this Division is not payable in request of qualified patient unless—

(a) where the rate gross fees chargeable by the public hospital in respect of the qualified patient exceeds the rate of that hospital benefit–the rate chargeable by public hospital in respect of that qualified patient is reduced by the rate of that hospital benefit; or

(b) in any other case—an amount is not chargeable by the public hospital in respect of that qualified patient.

“(2.) Where the rate of gross fees chargeable by a public hospital in respect of a qualified patient is not reduced by the rate of the hospital benefit in respect of that qualified patient, the Director-General may, in his discretion, direct that the amount of that hospital benefit be paid to that qualified patient or to the person who has paid the hospital fees of that qualified patient.

Payment of hospital benefits.

“6d.—(1.) Hospital benefits under this Division are not payable to a State unless the State makes a claim and furnishes a statement in accordance with this regulation.

“(2.) Payments of hospital benefits to a State under this Division shall be made, at such times as the Minister determines, on claims by the State under this regulation, subject to any adjustment by the Commonwealth as a result of particulars disclosed by the statement furnished by the State under sub-regulation (4.) of this regulation.

“(3.) A claim by a State for payment of hospital benefits under this Division shall be made in a form and manner, and within a time, determined by the Minister.

“(4.) As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, a State claiming hospital benefits under this Division shall furnish to the Minister a statement, in a form approved by the Minister, certified by the Auditor-General of the State and showing the total number of beds occupied each day by persons who were qualified patients in public hospitals in the State during that financial year, subdivided according to the rates of hospital benefits payable in respect of those persons.”.

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.