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Health Legislation Amendment (Removal of Requirement for a Collaborative Arrangement) 2024
✦ Plain-English Summary
# Health Legislation Amendment (Removal of Requirement for a Collaborative Arrangement) 2024
## What it does
This law removes the requirement for midwives and nurse practitioners to work under a formal "collaborative arrangement" with a doctor in order to provide Medicare-funded services. Instead, these healthcare professionals can now operate more independently while still being registered and regulated.
## Why it matters
This change makes it easier for midwives and nurse practitioners to set up practices and deliver care without needing to find a cooperating doctor to sign off on their work. For patients, it could mean faster access to these services, particularly in areas where doctors are scarce.
## Key details
- **Who's affected:** Midwives and nurse practitioners providing services funded by Medicare (the Health Insurance Act 1973 and National Health Act 1953 are being amended)
- **Commencement:** The changes take effect from 1 November 2024 (or the day after Royal Assent if that's later)
- **What's being removed:** All references requiring these professionals to work within collaborative arrangements specified by the Minister are being deleted from legislation
Official Description
Amends the National Health Act 1953 and Health Insurance Act 1973 to remove the requirement for a collaborative arrangement between an eligible nurse practitioner or eligible midwife and a medical practitioner to enable that midwife or practitioner to prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines or provide services under Medicare.
Audit History
Last updated on APH
10 Apr 2026
Last checked by Crossbench
today
🗳️No formal division recorded
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