19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973

What it does

Section 19AA of the Act allows doctors access to Medicare benefits arrangements while undertaking vocational training to receive a Fellowship from one of the medical specialist colleges.

Doctors affected by section 19AA can’t access Medicare benefits unless they apply for an approved training or workforce program.

Alternatively, the doctor can be placed in a workforce program where workforce shortages have occurred.

What it achieves

Section 19AA of the Act was introduced by the Australian Government:

• to ensure that the long term medical workforce in Australia is of a high quality
• to provide some opportunity to deal with workforce distribution problems.

Want more info?

Email: 19AA@health.gov.au
or Go to website >

For questions about provider numbers
Medicare Australia
Call 132 150 (all States)
or Email: medicare.prov@humanservices.gov.au