Pathologists
As part of Medicare Australia's commitment to meet the requirements of the Australian Government's Online Strategy and to ensure the availability of online services through the Electronic Transactions Act, Medicare Australia is giving you the option of electronically accessing and submitting your information.
This means you can apply for approval to perform pathology services by downloading the forms from this site and submitting your application forms electronically via email which is digitally signed and encrypted using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to Medicare Australia Pathology Section.
Pathology forms available to download and electronically submit include:
- Application for Approval and/or Cancellation of Approval of an eligible Collection Centre [PDF, 143Kb]
- National Association of Testing Authorities
Guidelines, examples and general information to help you access and submit your forms is available in the Pathology Information and Registration Kit. You can download the Pathology Information and Registration Kit, or email pathology.section@medicareaustralia.gov.au
or phone our National Office on 1300 721 546 to have a kit mailed to you.
- Pathology Information and Registration Kit - RTF version [RTF, 106Kb]
- Pathology Information and Registration Kit - PDF version [PDF, 33Kb]
ACC Application Explanatory Notes
A major eligibility criterion for pathology companies to receive Medicare benefits for pathology services is that the collection centre must be approved by Medicare Australia.
Collection centre approvals can only be granted to Approved Pathology Authorities (APAs) who operate a category GX or GY laboratory, and the APA must have been granted an allocation before any approval can be issued.
To be issued with an approval, an APA must submit to Medicare Australia a completed application form detailing:
- the location of the premises;
- the owner or lessor of the premises; and
- the details of staff to be employed at the centre.
The application form must also include a copy of the floor plan and the signed lease, or proof of ownership of the premises where the collection centre will be located.
In completing an application for an Approved Collection Centre (ACC), an APA should be aware that staff working at the premises are person's employed or engaged by the APA.
The terms are as follows:
Annual rental amount – An annual rental rate is to be provided. APA must specify whether the rent payable is net or gross. This must be the total amount of rent paid for the premises including GST, but excluding any outgoing contribution.
Outgoings – If a lease provides a net rental, outgoings will include additional components and these must be specified. These are amounts under the lease agreement contributed by the APA that are in addition to the actual rent, if any.
Net Floor Area in meters square – If the lease does not explicitly include the net floor area leased then the leased area must be calculated by measuring from the internal faces of interior wall (inclusive of structural columns). The Net Floor Area specified must be the floor space under the exclusive control of the APA, i.e. not space shared with a medical practice or other facility located in the same immediate premises and should be clearly identified on the floor plan.
Primary building use – This is a description of the main or primary building use such as shops, offices, warehouse or industrial area.
Approved Pathology Practitioner (APP)
To become an Approved Pathology Practitioner you are required to submit an application and undertaking and have the undertaking accepted by the Minister and pay the prescribed fee. An undertaking is accepted for not more than a year. Lodgment of a further application and undertaking must be made before expiry of the previous undertaking, to avoid any gap in eligibility for payment of Medicare benefits.
Before completing the form, you need to read the Important Notes and the General Information sections at the front of the application documents.
PDF format
Download the Application for Acceptance as an Approved Pathology Practitioner form to submit manually. Read our instructions for completing and submitting forms manually.
Hard Copy
To have a hard copy of this form posted to you, please phone 1300 721 546 or email pathology.section@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Approved Pathology Authority (APA)
To become an Approved Pathology Authority you are required to submit an application and undertaking and have the undertaking accepted by the Minister and pay the prescribed fee. An undertaking is accepted for not more than a year. Lodgment of a further application and undertaking must be before the expiry of the previous undertaking to avoid any gap in eligibility for payment of Medicare benefits.
Before completing the form, you need to read the Important Notes and the General Information sections at the front of the application documents.
PDF format
Download the Application for Acceptance as an Approved Pathology Authority form to submit manually. Read our instructions for completing and submitting forms manually
Hard Copy
To have a hard copy of this form posted to you, please phone 1300 721 546 or email pathology.section@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Accredited Pathology Laboratories (APL)
Section 16A (2)(b) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Act) requires a pathology service to be provided in an Accredited Pathology Laboratory in order to obtain Medicare benefits for pathology services.
You can apply to have premises approved in accordance with Section 23DN of the Act. If you are a new applicant, you should submit job descriptions together with staff organisational structure for senior medical and scientific staff with your application.
PDF format
Download the Application for Approval of Premises As an Accredited Pathology Laboratory form to submit manually. Read our instructions for completing and submitting forms manually
Hard Copy
To have a hard copy of this form posted to you, please phone 1300 721 546 or email pathology.section@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Electronic Referral and Requests
With the introduction of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 and as part of the Government's Online Strategy, Medicare Australia is now able to provide the IT standards that Medicare Australia requires for electronic transmission, scanning and storage of Referrals to specialists/consultant physicians and Requests for pathology and diagnostic imaging services. If you would like to transmit, scan and/or store Referrals or Requests electronically, please refer to the following Medicare Australia IT standards.
- Notice of Information Technology Standards under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 for Electronic and Paper [PDF, 39Kb]
- Approved Collection Centre (ACC) Search
Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.
Last updated: 6 May, 2011