Final Stage: Applying for a Medicare Provider Number on the PEP Specialist Pathway
Doctor Connect works with the doctor and the practice to prepare the application for a Medicare Provider number so that it is ready to submit when the visa is granted.
The application process for an Approved Placement, to be able to access a Medicare Provider Number (MPN) on the RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway has an additional step to inform Medicare of the doctor’s training pathway. Because the doctor is accessing Medicare benefits through the 3GA training program -RACGP PEP Specialist Pathway- the application needs to go through the RACGP Approved Placement team to get to the Medicare Provider Number Team.
The four parts of this step, after Visa Grant are:
- Submission of Part C
- Approved Placements
- Payment of Course Fees
- Medicare Provider Number Application
Here is the step-by-step process that we follow from the time that your visa is granted:
- Doctor completes “Submission of Part C”, which is a quick 6-question online RACGP form
- Doctor Connect gathers information from the Practice and completes the “Application for a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number for a medical practitioner” form, also known as HW019, and the Practice provides the Practice Letter of Support
- We send the form to the doctor for Hand Signing, they double-check their details and scan it back to us
- We then submit the signed HW019 form and practice Letter of Support to the RACGP PEP Approved Placement team on approvedplacement@racgp.org.au
- The Approved Placement team assesses the part C application of the candidate, which takes approximately 1-2 weeks. Anyone in Australia can phone RACGP Education on 1800 472 247 to request an update on this application, if they have been allocated as a nominated contact via email.)
- When the placement is approved, the Doctor receives an email stating that the placement is now approved by the RACGP
- A few days later, the Doctor will receive a further email including the program agreement and Term 1 invoice, to make an online payment of $11,900. The Doctor needs to complete and send the agreement to the email address mentioned in the form, and make payment of the invoice
- The doctor will receive another email from RACGP for their student membership fees
- Once Payment is made, the agreement is sent back to RACGP, and BLS certificate is provided, then the Doctor will receive an email confirming that Approved Placements has forwarded the MPN application to the Medicare Provider Number Application team
- Finally, this is the final step. After 24 hours, the doctor or the practice can call 132150 to ask about the progress of this application
- Typically, the Doctor will receive the MPN around 2- 3 weeks after this point, which then allows them to see patients and bill Medicare for their services
Note: Doctors often start at the practice for 1 – 2 weeks to complete the orientation, understand IT and MBS systems, and shadow experienced colleagues. This can all be done without a Provider Number.
As long as you work with our colleagues and follow this process step-by-step, then you should be able to receive the MPN promptly.
