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1.6 Medicare and the MRCA

The following Acts came into effect on 1 February 1996

  • Health and Other Services (Compensation) Act 1995
  • Health and Other Services (Compensation) Care Charges Act 1995
  • Health and Other Services (Compensation) (Consequential Amendments) Act 1995

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 Australia 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.

The basic guideline is that Medicare Australia must be notified if we accept a claim more than 6 months after it was lodged and we are aware that Medicare has reimbursed the claimant for medical costs for which the Commonwealth is liable under the MRCA.  In such a situation, Medicare is entitled to seek reimbursement from DVA for the monies it has paid.