Statutory Rules 1996   No. 3221
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Health Insurance Commission Regulations2 (Amendment)
I, The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the Health Insurance Act 1973.
Dated 20 December 1996.

	WILLIAM DEANE
	Governor-General
By His Excellency’s Command,

MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE
Minister for Health and Family Services
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1.   Commencement
1.1   These Regulations are taken to have commenced on 1 December 1996.
2.   Amendment
2.1   The Health Insurance Commission Regulations are amended as set out in these Regulations.
3.   Regulation 3 (Additional functions of the Commission: investigations relating to excessive services)
3.1   Subparagraph 3 (2) (c) (ii):
Omit “subsection, 101 (1)”, substitute “subsection 101 (1)”.
4.   Regulation 3P (Additional functions of the Commission: the Better Practice Program)
4.1   Paragraph 3P (6) (b):
Omit “sub-subparagraph (5) (a) (ii) (A) or (B) or paragraph (5) (b)”, substitute “subparagraph (5) (b) (i), (ii) or (iii)”.
4.2   After subregulation 3P (9), insert:
	“(9A)	If a practice withdraws from participation in the Program by giving written notice to the Commission, it ceases to be eligible for participation when the Commission receives the notice.”.
4.3   After subregulation 3P (10), insert:
	“(10A)	The period in subregulation (10) is taken to be 8 payment quarters if:
	(a)	the practice ceases to be eligible to participate in the Program in the year starting on 1 December 1996; and
	(b)	the cessation of eligibility is not caused by cancellation or withdrawal.
	“(10B)	In the year starting on 1 December 1997, the Commission may extend the period in subregulation (10) by 1 to 4 payment quarters.”.
	
NOTES
1.	Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 December 1996.
2.	Statutory Rules 1975 No. 27 as amended by 1976 Nos. 21 and 146: 1982 No. 249: 1983 Nos. 88 and 152; Act No. 54, 1983; Statutory Rules 1984 No. 321; 1985 Nos. 41 and 70; 1986 No. 127; 1987 No. 165; 1989 Nos. 55, 96 and 195; 1991 No. 443; 1992 No. 241; 1993 Nos. 81, 89, 197 and 217; 1994 Nos. 102, 257, 404 and 450; 1995 Nos. 24, 286, 375 and 440; 1996 No. 159.