Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
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ACRRM is the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. It has a current membership of around 2,500 including fellows, registrars, practitioners and students.[1]
History
ACRRM was established in 1997
ACRRM received initial accreditation from the Australian Medical Council (AMC) in February 2007, and was included in the Australian Medicare legislation in April 2007.[2]
Initial accreditation enables ACRRM to now work towards a full assessment by an AMC accreditation team in the future. The AMC assesses and accredits training programs in the recognised medical specialties. Rural and remote medicine is not a recognised medical specialty. The initial accreditation relates to ACRRM as a standards body and provider of specific training and professional development programs for the specialty of general practice. [3]
Australian Legislation and Regulations governing Medicare and the recognition of General Practitioners
This was a Regulatory change rather than Legislative change that enables practitioners who 'meet ACRRM's fellowship standards' to gain Vocational Recognition as a General Practitioner in Australia. Medical practitioners who 'meet the ACRRM's fellowship standards' can be vocationally recognised General Practitioners in Australia and deliver services that attract a Medicare rebate.
Australia has a socialised health care system offering Australians and designated other foriegn nationals access to subsidised health care through universal health insurance. A portion of the charge (in many instances the complete charge) for medical services is rebated through the Australian Government via Medicare.
The Federal Government enacted Legislation in 1973 - The Health Insurance Act 1973 - legislating the universal health insurance.[4]
Gazetted underneath this Act is The Health Insurance Regulations 1975..[5]
Australian Acts require passage through the Parliament. Australian Regulations can be changed by authority of the Minister of the relevant Department and the Governor-General of Australia. The distinction is signifcant as parliamentary review is the more robust mechanism.
The Act and Regulations define how a doctor can be recognised as a General Practitioner in Australia and, therefore, deliver services that attract Medicare rebates. This is Vocational Recognition of General Practitioners. There are three current pathways.
1/ Section 3EA of The Health Insurance Act 1973 allows doctors to gain a 'determination' as a General Practitioner if they are General Practitioners if they are 'Fellows of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners'.
2/ Section 3F of The Health Insurance act 1973 allows doctors to gain a determination as a General Practitioner if they meet the requirements set out by Medicare Australia. This is the Vocational Register. This list is held by the CEO of Medicare Australia.
3/ The third pathway relevant to ACRRM is not held in the Legislation but in the Regulations. Section 6DA of The Health Insurance Regulations 1975. This section of the Regulations allows doctors to seek a determination that they are a General Practitioner if they 'meet ACRRM fellowship standards'.
This regulation was added in April 2007 by the authority of the Governor General.[6]
References
- ^ "Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine". ACRRM. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ^ "Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine". ACRRM. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ^ http://www.amc.org.au/news50.asp
- ^ "Health Insurance Act 1973". ComLaw. Attorney General's Department. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ "Health Insurance Regulations 1975". ComLaw. Attorney General's Department. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ "Health Insurance Amendment Regulation 2007 (No. 1)". ComLaw. Attorney General's Department. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
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