The 10
year moratorium.
01
THE 10 YEAR MORATORIUM EXPLAINED
Understanding the 10-Year Moratorium for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) in Australia
In Australia, international medical graduates (IMGs), which include overseas-trained medical practitioners and those who graduated from a medical school outside of Australia or New Zealand, face the challenge of a 10-year moratorium when aspiring to work as general practitioners. This moratorium also applies to IMGs who received their medical degree in Australia or New Zealand as temporary residents.
At Doctoru, we are committed to providing valuable information to assist IMGs in navigating the process of becoming fully qualified general practitioners in Australia, including comprehensive details about the 10-year moratorium and Medicare benefits. The 10-year moratorium significantly impacts IMGs aiming to establish a career in general practice, particularly overseas trained doctors (OTDs) and foreign graduates of accredited medical schools (FGAMS).
Let's delve deeper into gaining a comprehensive understanding of the 10-year moratorium and its implications for IMGs seeking to practice as General Practitioners in Australia.
02
ORIGIN OF THE 10 YEAR MORATORIUM
If you are not familiar with the specifics of the 10-year restriction period for general practitioners (GPs) in Australia, it is essential to understand its background. Starting in the late 1990s, the Australian federal government actively recruited professionals with medical training from overseas, often from countries where there is no recognized equivalence between their professional standards and qualifications and those of Australia. However, unless they have a Section 19AB exemption, international medical graduates, including foreign medical students who first registered with an Australian medical registration board on or after 1 January 1997, are not eligible to receive Medicare benefits for their services for a minimum of ten years.
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WHAT IS THE 10 YEAR MORATORIUM?
International medical graduates are restricted in their employment locations and eligibility for Medicare benefits under Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act of 1973, commonly known as the 10-year moratorium. General practitioners who are international medical graduates must work in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) and are subject to limitations on their Medicare provider numbers for a duration of ten years. DPAs are designated as areas with insufficient medical coverage to meet the needs of the local population, mostly found in rural and remote regions of Australia. To access these specific benefits, medical professionals are required to serve in a DPA region for a specified period, traditionally set at ten years (hence, the 10-year moratorium). These restrictions remain in place until the doctors fulfill their service period and acquire Australian citizenship or permanent residency status.
04
10 YEAR MORATORIUM EXEMPTIONS
Similar to any regulation, there exists a range of exemptions to the 19AB rule. The exemptions to 19AB comprise the following categories:Exemptions to Work in Priority Areas for Medicare Provider NumbersTo be eligible for a Medicare provider number in priority areas, you can qualify under the following conditions:
1. Medical Specialty in DPA:
If you work in a DPA for your medical specialty, participate in an approved workforce or training program, or work after regular hours in any location, you may be granted a Medicare provider number.
2. Six-Month Locum Exemption:
By taking up a locum GP job, you can access Medicare benefits anywhere for a maximum of six months while arranging work in a DPA location. This exemption cannot be repeated or extended.
3. Replacement Exemption:
If you replace a physician who previously held an unrestricted 19AB exemption and is no longer practicing in the local community, this exemption grants you access to Medicare benefits in any location.
4. Spousal Exemption:
If your spouse is a doctor or skilled immigrant, you might be eligible for a 19AB spousal exemption.
5. Prior Employment Negotiations:
If you initiated employment negotiations with a practice when it was within a DPA for your specialty, this exemption provides you access to Medicare benefits in any location.
6. After-Hours Exemption:
Working outside regular business hours qualifies you to receive Medicare benefits wherever you are located.
7. Discretionary Exemption:
Being the primary caregiver for a close relative with a grave medical condition or facing specific exceptional circumstances may qualify you for this exemption.
8. Academic Exemption:
You may request an academic exemption if you meet all requirements and hold an academic appointment with a medical school in Australia.
According to Section 19AB, there are several exemption categories from the 10-year moratorium. Each exemption category has specific criteria for eligibility, application, and validation. Hence, seeking guidance from industry professionals such as Doctoru is crucial to ensure compliance with the specific conditions relevant to the desired exemption.
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REDUCE THE 10 YEAR MORATORIUM WITH SCALING
General practitioners have the option to circumvent the 10-year moratorium by leveraging scaling. Working in remote or distant regions allows for reducing the period spent in a District of Workforce Shortage (DPA) by a maximum of five years. The greater the distance of the work location, the more scaling credits will be applied towards fulfilling the 10-year service obligation. Upon meeting the requirements outlined in Sections 19AB and 19AA, practitioners gain the authorization to practice in any Australian location.
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SCALING?
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are considered eligible for moratorium scaling if they satisfy the following criteria:
1. The commencement of their moratorium period is officially recognized.
2. They are employed in a designated regional or remote area as outlined in Section 19AB.
3. They are submitting claims for services rendered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule within the scope of their employment.
4. They meet a monthly billing threshold of $5,000.
5. Scaling credits are computed and applied by Medicare based on billing data available.
6. Services Australia conducts an automatic monthly review to determine scaling eligibility.
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HOW DO SCALING CREDITS WORK?
The Statistical Geographical Classification – Remoteness Area system is used to calculate scaling credits.
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HOW TO CHECK YOUR SCALING CREDITS
Monthly Scaling Calculations by Services Australia
Services Australia conducts scaling calculations on the final day of every month, taking into account the preceding four months, but excluding the ongoing month. For example, a scaling computation made on April 30 incorporates the months of December, January, February, and March.
You have the option to track your scaling credits and access Section 19AB exemption details via your Health Professionals Online Services (HPOS) account. If you have inquiries about the 10-year moratorium or need guidance on your journey to becoming an accredited GP in Australia, don't hesitate to get in touch with us today!
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WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR JOB OPTIONS IN AUSTRALIA?
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