11th March 13
Professions Reference Group (PRG) meeting was organised by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and held on the 26th February 2013 at 11.00am in AHPRA's head office in Bourke Street Melbourne. PRG is established by AHPRA to provide a forum for engagement between AHPRA and associations representing the professions in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) about operational issues. Each professional representative had an opportunity to express their concerns and suggestions. FCMA was invited to be the first round representing association in the Chinese Medicine profession in PRG membership in the Year 2013.
Professor Tzi Chiang Lin, President of FCMA expressed his respects to other professions and said that the Chinese Medicine (CM) profession was just like a new born baby in these 14 regulated health professions, CM profession need their support. Upon further discussion it was pointed out that since commencement of registration of Chinese Medicine practitioners from 1st July 2012, some grandparenting applicants who have held Bachelor Degrees of Chinese Medicine, (which should be registered under section 303 (1) a by the National Law), have been refused registration by the Registration committee of the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA). Those who have been affected by the decision have to appeal to Tribunals.
He also suggested AHPRA be able to issue a provider number for each practitioner so that all private health funds could use one single provider number for rebate of consultation fees. Finally that registered acupuncturists should be included in Medicare system in the future.
Officer of AHPRA replied that this is not in their jurisdiction for affairs of private health funds and Medicare.
As FCMA is in the role of representing CM profession in PRG for this year, should your organisation have any concerns or suggestions about the operation issues of NRAS or AHPRA, please email to contactus@fcma.org.au