Read more about recognition rules for specialist and consultant physicians.
To apply for recognition you need to complete the Application for recognition as a specialist or consultant physician form (HW077).
When you do this, you’ll need to return the form and supporting documents to us using the instructions on the form.
If you’re a fellow you need the following supporting documents:
- a copy of your Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) registration
- confirmation of your fellowship showing the specialty you’re applying for and date of approval as a specialist or consultant physician.
Evidence we accept includes:
- your Australasian Specialist Medical College Fellowship certificate
- a letter from the relevant Australasian Specialist Medical College confirming you’re a fellow.
If you don’t have Australasian fellowship, you need a copy of your Ahpra specialist registration that lists your specialty.
If your Ahpra registration doesn’t list your specialty, you also need to provide a letter from Ahpra confirming both of these:
- you’re a registered specialist
- the period your registration is valid.
Recognition as a PET specialist won’t automatically allow you to bill or claim MBS items for PET services. You’ll need to complete a Positron Emission Tomography - statutory declaration form (HW064) to bill or claim MBS items for any PET services.
To bill or claim MBS items for MRI services, you need to complete the Application to register or amend a diagnostic imaging or radiation oncology practice form (HW061).
We’ll tell you if you can bill or claim MBS items for MRI services when we process your application.
If you’re a temporary resident and become a permanent Australian resident you must tell us immediately. This is because you need to:
- satisfy Section 19AA of the Health Insurance Act 1973 by holding recognised postgraduate medical qualifications from the date your residency status changes or your eligibility for Medicare billing will stop
- reapply for specialist or consultant physician recognition
- apply for a 19AB exemption as a specialist or consultant physician.
If you don’t tell us about your change in residency status, it may mean you get money you’re not entitled to. You may get a debt you need to pay back.
You’ll need to provide copies of documents confirming your new residency status and the date it changed.
To bill or claim MBS items for MRI services, you need to complete the Application to register or amend a diagnostic imaging or radiation oncology practice form (HW061).
We’ll tell you if you can bill or claim MBS items for MRI services when we process your application.
To bill or claim MBS items for sleep apnoea, you need to provide advice from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians that you have either:
- obtained equivalent to Level I of the advanced training program in either adult or paediatric sleep medicine
- post-fellowship specialist recognition in sleep medicine.
You don’t need to pay an application fee to have this specialist recognition added to your provider record.
You can write to us to tell us to stop recognising you for Medicare purposes. This can be an email or a letter and must include your:
- provider number
- full name
- date of birth.
You must send the request yourself. No one can send it on your behalf.