About Medicare Australia
Delivering Australia's universal health funding programs
Medicare Australia is an Australian government agency and plays an integral role in the Australian health sector. Its objective is to assist in improving health outcomes in Australia.
These health programs include:
- Australia's universal health insurance program, Medicare (including the compensation recovery program for Medicare and nursing home benefits)
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Australian Government 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate
- Special Assistance Schemes (including Bali 2005 Special Assistance, London Assist, Tsuanami Healthcare Assistance Scheme and Balimed)
- Australian Childhood Immunisation Register
- Australian Organ Donor Register
- General Practice Immunisation Incentives Scheme
- Practice Incentives Program
- Rural Retention Program HECS Reimbursement Scheme and General Practice Registrars’ rural Incentive Payments Scheme
- claims processing and payments for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (including the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), the Office of Hearing Services and the Department of Western Australia.
- Family Assistance Office in partnership with other Australian government agencies.
Medicare Australia is a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and is a statutory agency under the Public Service Act 1999, within the Department of Human Services.
Medicare Australia works in partnership with the Department of Health and Ageing to achieve the Australian Government's health policy objectives. Our activities are conducted within the government policy framework set by the Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and relevant legislation.
Last updated: 19 November, 2008