This instrument is the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (2022 Measures No. 4) Determination 2022.

(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provisions	Commencement	Date/Details
1. Sections 1 to 4	30 September 2022.
2. Schedule 1	30 September 2022.
3. Schedule 2	1 October 2022.

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 3C(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.

4 Schedules

Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1— Extension of COVID-19 services

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID‑19) Determination 2020

1 Section 3

Omit “30 September 2022”, substitute “31 December 2022”.

Health Insurance (General Practice COVID‑19 Management Support Service) Determination 2021

2 Section 4

Omit “30 September 2022”, substitute “31 December 2022”.

Health Insurance (General Practice COVID-19 Treatment) Determination 2022

3 Section 4

Omit “31 October 2022”, substitute “31 December 2022”.

Schedule 2— Pathology COVID-19 amendments

Health Insurance (Section 3C Pathology Services – COVID‑19) Determination 2020

4 Subsection 5(1)

Repeal the subsection, substitute:

(1) In this instrument:

Act means the Health Insurance Act 1973.

bulk‑billed: a pathology service is bulk‑billed if:

(a) a medicare benefit is payable to a person in relation to the service; and

(b) under an agreement entered into under section 20A of the Act:

(i) the person assigns to the practitioner by whom, or on whose behalf, the service is provided, the person’s right to the payment of the medicare benefit; and

(ii) the practitioner accepts the assignment in full payment of the practitioner’s fee for the service provided.

relevant provisions means all provisions, of the Act and regulations made under the Act, and the National Health Act 1953 and regulations made under the National Health Act 1953, relating to pathology services, professional services or items.

relevant service means a health service, as defined in subsection 3C(8) of the Act, that is specified in a Schedule.

pathology services table means the table prescribed under subsection 4A(1) of the Act.

prescribed laboratory has the meaning given by clause 4.1 of the pathology services table.

Schedule means a Schedule to this instrument.

Note: The following terms are defined in subsection 3(1) of the Act:

clinically relevant service;

hospital;

item;

private patient;

professional service;

recognised hospital;

 schedule fee.

5 Subsection 6(1)

Omit “items 69479 or 69480”, substitute “an item in Schedule 1”.

6 Section 7

Repeal the section, substitute:

7. Application of provisions of the pathology services table

(1) Clause 1.2.9 of the pathology services table shall have effect as if items in Schedule 1 of this Determination were specified in paragraph 1.2.9(2)(a) of the pathology services table.

7 Schedule 1 (the table)

Repeal the table, substitute:

Group P3 – Microbiology
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Item	Pathology service		Fee ($)
69506	Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid if: (a) the person is a private patient in a recognised hospital and the fee charged for the service does not exceed the schedule fee; or (b) the person receives a bulk-billed service from a prescribed laboratory		34.90
69507	Detection of a viral, fungal, atypical pneumonia pathogen or Bordetella species nucleic acid from a nasal swab, throat swab, nasopharyngeal aspirate and/or lower respiratory tract sample, including a service described in 69506, if: (a) the person is a private patient in a recognised hospital and the fee charged for the service does not exceed the schedule fee; or (b) the person receives a bulk-billed service from a prescribed laboratory 2 to 4 tests		37.85
69508	5 to 8 tests described in 69507		40.85
69509	9 to 12 tests described in 69507		43.80
69510	13 or more tests described in item 69507		46.75
69511	Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid if: (a) the person is a private patient in a hospital other than a recognised hospital and the fee charged for the service does not exceed the schedule fee; or (b) the person receives a bulk-billed service not covered by item 69506		68.85
69512	Detection of a viral, fungal, atypical pneumonia pathogen or Bordetella species nucleic acid from a nasal swab, throat swab, nasopharyngeal aspirate and/or lower respiratory tract sample, including a service described in 69511, if: (a) the person is a private patient in a hospital other than a recognised hospital and the fee charged for the service does not exceed the schedule fee; or (b) the person receives a bulk-billed service not covered by item 69507 2 to 4 tests		74.75
69513	5 to 8 tests described in 69512		80.65
69514	9 to 12 tests described in 69512		86.55
69515	13 or more tests described in item 69512		92.45