A Quick Summary of 19AA and 19AB

19AA and 19AB can get very confusing- you may be asking yourself “does this relate to me?”. 

So we have prepared a quick summary that you can refer to, for the basics. 
 

19AA and the 3GA programs

19AA requires any Non-Vocationally Registered Australian Permanent Resident or Citizen to be registered on an approved 3GA program prior to commencing work to be able to gain access to Medicare benefits.

This restricts both people born here in Australia and those who have become Australians.

Once you sit your fellowship exams and are recognized as a specialist doctor, this restriction no longer applies.

The 3GA program you join will impact which college you will be eligible to sit fellowship exams for.

The current 3GA programs you can be on to be eligible for RACGP are:

• Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)

• After Hours Medical Deputising (AMDS)

• Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

• More Doctors for Rural Australia (MDRAP)

• Fellowship Support Program (FSP)

The current 3GA programs you can be on to be eligible for ACRRM are:

• ACRRM Independent Pathway

• Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)

• After Hours Medical Deputising (AMDS)

• Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

• More Doctors for Rural Australia (MDRAP)

From 2022, 19AA will become redundant as all doctors wanting to be fellowed with RACGP or ACRRM, regardless of residency status, will be required to be on an approved training program- either ACRRM IP, AGPT, RVTS or FSP. 

19AB and DPA

If you’ve completed your medical degree outside of Australia or New Zealand OR you weren’t an Australian Citizen or permanent resident prior to the commencement of your degree in Australia then to be able to have your patients collect a rebate from Medicare (or for you to bulk bill), you need to work in an area that has been defined by the Department of Health as a “Distribution Priority Area” (DPA).

You are required to work in a DPA area for a 10 year moratorium, although, the more remote the location you work in, the lower your moratorium period.

There are a number of exemptions from DPA, including

• Spousal exemption
• Replacement exemption 
• General exemption
• After hours exemption
• Locum exemption
• Aboriginal Medical Services exemption

If you are a Non-VR Permanent Resident or Citizen who also received your medical qualifications outside of Australia or New Zealand, you will be restricted by both 19AA and 19AB. If this is the case for you, you will be unable to get an exemption, with the exception of AGPT which accepts a spousal exemption. 

Note: You can work as a fee billing doctor where patients cannot collect a rebate from Medicare. Please know that this is very different from “Privately” billing, where patients pay a gap but still get a rebate back from Medicare. 

DO YOU NEED HELP? 

Our team offer General Practitioners assistance with finding jobs and a career pathway, and Medical Facilities to find a new Medical Practitioner. We also help with the full application process with AHPRA, RACGP, ACRRM, Department of Health, Medicare including 19AA & 19AB. If we can help, please contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au. 

People Medical Consulting are a team of professionals with a passion for guiding those specialising in the Medical industry to find their career pathway and settle into Australia. Working with both Australian trained and Overseas trained professionals, we have extensive experience in Recruitment of General Practitioners and Document Assistance for those requiring support with RACGP, AHPRA, 19AA and 19AB Medicare Exemptions.