Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HEALTH INSURANCE ACT 1973 - SECT 79AD

Commissioner's functions

  (1)   The functions of the National Rural Health Commissioner are as follows:

  (a)   to provide advice to the Rural Health Minister about matters relating to health in rural, regional or remote areas, including in relation to:

  (i)   developing, aligning and implementing Commonwealth strategies, priorities or measures so as to improve health outcomes in those areas; and

  (ii)   developing and promoting innovative and integrated approaches to the delivery of health services in those areas so as to improve the quality and sustainability of, and access to, health services in those areas; and

  (iii)   identifying opportunities to strengthen and align health workforce training in those areas; and

  (iv)   strengthening and promoting regionally - based, patient - centred approaches to the delivery of health services in those areas that take into account the needs of the communities, families and individuals in those areas;

  (b)   to undertake projects specified by the Rural Health Minister under subsection   (3);

  (c)   to inquire into and report on matters specified by the Rural Health Minister under subsection   (4);

  (d)   to support the implementation of Commonwealth strategies, priorities and measures for improving the quality and sustainability of, and access to, health services in those areas;

  (e)   to undertake research, and to collect, analyse, interpret and share information, about approaches for improving the quality and sustainability of, and access to, health services in those areas;

  (f)   to consult with the following persons, groups and bodies about matters relating to health in those areas:

  (i)   health professionals;

  (ii)   State and Territory governmental bodies;

  (iii)   industry, non - profit and other community groups;

  (iv)   other health stakeholders;

  (g)   to build and maintain effective working relationships with the persons, groups and bodies referred to in paragraph   (f);

  (h)   to perform any function conferred on the Commissioner under a law of the Commonwealth.

Paragraphs   (a) to (h) do not limit each other.

Note:   For the purposes of paragraph   (h), a function may be conferred on the Commissioner under subsection   (7).

Independence and impartiality

  (2)   The Commissioner must perform those functions in an independent and impartial manner.

Projects or inquiries specified by the Rural Health Minister

  (3)   For the purposes of paragraph   (1)(b), the Rural Health Minister may give a written notice to the National Rural Health Commissioner requesting the Commissioner:

  (a)   to undertake a project that:

  (i)   relates to health in rural, regional or remote areas; and

  (ii)   is specified in the notice; and

  (b)   to complete the project within the timeframe specified in the notice.

  (4)   For the purposes of paragraph   (1)(c), the Rural Health Minister may give a written notice to the National Rural Health Commissioner requesting the Commissioner:

  (a)   to inquire into a matter that:

  (i)   relates to health in rural, regional or remote areas; and

  (ii)   is specified in the notice; and

  (b)   to give a written report on the matter to the Rural Health Minister within the timeframe specified in the notice.

  (5)   The National Rural Health Commissioner must comply with a notice given under subsection   (3) or (4).

  (6)   A notice under subsection   (3) or (4) is not a legislative instrument.

Additional functions

  (7)   For the purposes of paragraph   (1)(h), the Rural Health Minister may, by legislative instrument, confer on the National Rural Health Commissioner a function that relates to health in rural, regional or remote areas.