Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the members of the House who have participated in this debate—the members for Gellibrand, New England and Kennedy, and the members for Moreton, Dobell and Cowper. I am here on behalf of the Minister for Health and Ageing in order to sum up the second reading debate on the Health Insurance Amendment (Provider Number Review) Bill 2007.

This bill proposes an amendment to the Health Insurance Act 1973 relating to the arrangements for reviewing the operation of sections 19AA, 3GA and 3GC of the act, collectively known as the Medicare provider number legislation. The Medicare provider number legislation contained within section 19AA of the act was introduced in 1996. While it was initially considered to be contentious legislation at the time of introduction, all subsequent formal reviews of the legislation have found that the legislation continues to be well accepted and is raising the quality of general practice services to the community. There is also broad agreement that the operation of section 19AA of the act has not exacerbated any medical workforce shortages. The bill proposes to retain the review process but to change the review interval from two to five years, with the next review report to be tabled in parliament no later than 31 December 2010.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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