Who is affected by Section 19AB restrictions?
Overseas Trained Doctors (IMG/OTDs) and foreign graduates of an accredited medical school (FGAMS) who are restricted by Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) will be affected 19AB restrictions.
This means that if you obtained your primary medical degree in another country or commenced your degree in Australia before you were a citizen, then you could be subject to 19AB restrictions.
What is the purpose of Section 19AB and DPA?
Section 19AB restrictions and Distribution Priority Areas are a key mechanism that the Australian Government uses to achieve an equitable distribution of medical services across Australia.
How to apply for a 19AB Exemption?
Excluding spousal exemptions, all other 19AB exemption requests are being processed alongside your Medicare Provider Number application, by submitting all the necessary supporting documents. Services Australia will then submit your application for a 19AB exemption to the Department of Health on your behalf.
The benefit of working with GP recruitment specialists like Alecto, is that we will guide you through the entire process, ensuring that all necessary documents ready for your 19AB exemption application.
➜ For assistance related to your 19AB Exemption application, please get in touch.
How long does it take to get a 19AB exemption approved?
The complete process (from finding a job through to receiving a Medicare provider number) can take a few months, so the sooner you get started the better. The actual Medicare application process for your 19AB exemption can take a maximum of 6 weeks to be approved. In practice, we are often able to get these approved in around 3 weeks for our GPs.
When does my 10 year Moratorium start?
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have a restricted Medicare Provider Number for 10 years and are therefore required to work in a Distribution Priority Area until the 10-year moratorium is completed -unless other 19AB exemptions apply.
Your 10-year moratorium starts when you are first awarded medical registration in Australia. It’s important to note, that you do not need to have held continuous registration for 10 years.
How are DPA determined?
Unlike District of Workforce Shortage (DWS), the new DPA classification system for General Practitioners is not based on a GP-to-population ratio.
Instead, the new system considers factors such as gender, age and socio-economic status of patients in a GP catchment area.
So, how are DPA determined?
- Inner metropolitan areas are automatically considered non-DPA.
- An area is automatically classified DPA if it falls into MM 3 – 7 (Modified Monash Model)
- Northern Territory is automatically deemed DPA
- Locations which have a shortage of health services are generally deemed DPA if health services don’t meet a specific benchmark.
Which areas have DPA Status?
The Department of Health created a useful tool to check the DPA status of a specific location.
➜ Access the Health Workforce Locator tool
Health-related geographic distribution classifications are updated by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) and typically take effect on 1 July each year. However, under special circumstances, for example when a community experiences an unexpected health workforce shortage, a DPA classification review can be submitted.
At Alecto, we follow DPA classification changes closely and therefore we are frequently updating records of DPA changes.
➜ View a summary of the most recent updates of the DPA Map
What happens if an area loses its DPA status after I accept a job but before I get my Medicare provider number?
As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Health, they will give you a 19AB exemption (DPA) provided that the area was a DPA at the time you were negotiating the contract.
More Questions regarding 19AB?
If you have any more questions about 19AB restrictions, exemptions or finding an attractive GP in Australia, please get in touch with our Registration Manager Christina Panayi on +61 423 165 120 or christina@alecto.com.au
At Alecto Australia we are very experienced with 19AB, 19AA and DPA having worked in the industry for years and specialising in all types of exemptions.
We have a number of DPA vacancies across Australia, including rural and regional locations, as well as more sought-after metro DPA positions in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. To see what’s available right now, visit our GP jobs page.
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