33.1 Background

The legislation enables people who are waiting to have a workers' compensation claim settled to claim Medicare and nursing home care benefits. To prevent 'double dipping', Medicare must be reimbursed all amounts of Medicare and nursing home care benefits, which a claimant has received in relation to his or her injury prior to liability for payment of compensation being admitted. Compensation administrators are obliged to meet significant reporting requirements under these arrangements.

Generally speaking, Medicare must be notified if we accept a claim more than 6 months after it was lodged and we are aware that the claimant has been reimbursed by Medicare for medical costs for which the Commonwealth is liable under the SRC Act. In such a situation, Medicare is entitled to seek reimbursement from MRCC for the monies they have paid.