Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 2007 - SECT 172.1

                   A private health insurer must comply, within a reasonable time, with such requirements as the Council, in the performance of its functions, imposes on the insurer.

172-5  Agreements with medical practitioners

Medical purchaser-provider agreements

             (1)  If a private health insurer enters into an agreement with a * medical practitioner for the provision of treatment to persons insured by the insurer, the agreement must not limit the medical practitioner's professional freedom, within the scope of accepted clinical practice, to identify and provide appropriate treatments.

Practitioner agreements

             (2)  If a hospital or day hospital facility enters into an agreement with a * medical practitioner, under which treatment is provided to persons insured by the insurer, the agreement must not limit the medical practitioner's professional freedom, within the scope of accepted clinical practice, to identify and provide appropriate treatments.

Note:          Medical practitioners may, in dealings with private health insurers, be able to take advantage of the collective bargaining provisions of Subdivision B of Division 2 of Part VII of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 .