Applying for additional Medicare provider numbers

Eligible health professionals can apply online for Medicare provider numbers for additional approved locations.

Full access provider numbers

If you're a medical practitioner you can create an additional full access provider number through HPOS if you either:

You may also be eligible if all the following apply:

  • you have trained overseas
  • you are subject to 19AA
  • you have a postgraduate qualification.

In these cases, we’ll assess each application to determine if we can apply a 19AB exemption. To find out more, refer to the 19AB exemptions table below.

You must submit an application for both a:

  • provider number
  • prescriber number.

19AB exemptions

Not all medical practitioners are subject to 19AB and not all 19AB exemptions are available through HPOS.

The following table shows which medical practitioners may be eligible to get a 19AB exemption through HPOS based on both:

  • work location
  • field of work.
Work location Field of work

All locations

Cardio-thoracic Surgery

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

Gastroenterology and Hepatology

General Medicine

General Paediatrics

Geriatric Medicine

Haematology

Intensive Care Medicine

Nephrology

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Orthopaedic Surgery

Paediatric Surgery

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Thoracic (Respiratory and Sleep) Medicine

Urology

Vascular Surgery

Within a Distribution Priority Area

General Practitioner

Within a District of Workforce Shortage

Consultant Physician - Cardiology

Consultant Physician - Psychiatry

Specialist:

  • Anaesthesia
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • General Surgery
  • Medical Oncology
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology

The Northern Territory

General Practitioner

Consultant:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Genetics
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

Consultant Physician:

  • Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Occupational and Environment Medicine
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Specialist:

  • Addiction Medicine
  • Anatomical Pathology
  • Community Child Health
  • Forensic Pathology
  • General Pathology
  • Gynaecological Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Maternal and Foetal Medicine
  • Medical Oncology
  • Microbiology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecological Ultrasound
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Paediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pain Medicine
  • Palliative Medicine
  • Public Health Medicine
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Sexual Health Medicine
  • Sport and Exercise Medicine
  • Urogynaecology
  • Anaesthesia
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • General Surgery

Limited access provider numbers

If you're eligible, you can apply online for additional limited access Medicare provider numbers.

The table below shows which medical practitioners can create a additional provider number through HPOS and under what conditions.

Medical practitioner Conditions Authority

Temporary resident medical practitioners.

Subject to section 19AB who don’t have a postgraduate qualification under the 10 year moratorium.

Can create a ‘Refer and request only’ provider location number.

Permanent resident and Australian citizen medical practitioners. Don’t have a postgraduate qualification and are subject to section 19AB, under the 10 year moratorium.

Can create a ‘Refer and request only’ or ‘Refer, request and assist at private operations only’ provider location number.

Permanent resident and Australian citizen medical practitioners.

Don’t have a postgraduate qualification and aren’t subject to section 19AB.

A ‘Refer and request only’ or ‘Refer, request and assist at private operations only’ provider location number.

You can manage your provider locations through HPOS using your PRODA account.

If you can't apply online

You'll need to complete a form if you are applying for an additional provider number in the same location. This includes if you're a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) health professional providing UCC Services.

Find out how to apply for additional provider numbers.

Page last updated: 3 May 2023.
QC 48111

Try our new dark mode

We're testing a darker colour scheme. Try it and let us know what you think.