Lapsed registrants update

A fast track service is now available for practitioners who have lapsed of the register.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is contacting health practitioners whose registration has lapsed because they did not renew their registration on time.

There is a fast track to re-apply for registration if a practitioner did not renew within one month of their registration expiry date. The fast track application form is published online with AHPRA usually processing fast track applications within 48 hours.

As required by law, AHPRA has given Medicare the list of practitioners whose registration has lapsed. Medicare will now contact practitioners whose patients are no longer entitled to a rebate.

Practitioners can apply through the fast track if they wish to return to practise. A special AHPRA hotline has been set up for any practitioner contacted by Medicare who need additional advice or information

Some practitioners whose registration has lapsed have deliberately opted out and chosen not to renew their registration. AHPRA is developing an IT solution so these practitioners can advise

AHPRA that they do not wish to be registered, so no further registration renewal reminders will be sent.

AHPRA CEO, Martin Fletcher, said AHPRA had put more resources into improving services and information flow to registrants.

“We have boosted our phone capacity, increased the operating hours of our contact centre, put more resources in processing fast tracks and renewal applications and put in place a specialist response dedicated to working with Medicare and registrants whose registration has lapsed,” he said.

“More initiatives and web-based registrant services are planned and we are doing everything we can to support practitioners getting back on the register if they choose to return to practise.”

Go to www.ahpra.gov.au

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