AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

HEALTH COMMISSION (CHARGES) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

No. 7 of 1984

The Health Commission (Charges) Regulations have been amended to incorporate consequential amendments associated with the introduction of Medicare and to provide for increases in nursing home charges following the Government’s decision to increase the nursing home patient contribution in accordance with the increase in the pension.

The definition section of the Health Commission (Charges) Regulations is amended in the following manner:-

(a)	by deleting from the definition of “hospital” the words “other than Ward 10A”.  This is a consequence of the recognition that Ward 10A of Woden Valley Hospital is being used as an acute assessment ward for nursing home type patients.

(b)	by omitting the definition of “hospital patient” and inserting a new definition defining a “hospital patient” as an in-patient other than a private patient.

(c)	by including in the definition of “private patient” a person who, although otherwise a hospital patient, seeks and is granted accommodation in a single room.

(d)	by updating the definition of “standard medical benefits table”.

As a consequence of the amendment to the definition of “hospital” sub-regulation (7) of regulation 2 has been deleted.

Regulations 2 and 3 of the amending Regulations amend the fees payable under current Regulations 3B and 4 for nursing home accommodation by increasing the daily rate by 45c.  This increase is in accordance with Government policy of setting the patient contribution rate at 87½% of the standard rate pension plus supplementary assistance.