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Goods and Services Tax (GST) charged to Medicare patient claim accounts 011-43010110

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This page contains information for Service Officers about the process to follow when a Medicare patient claim account includes a charge for Goods and Services Tax (GST).

On this page:

Medicare account or receipt with GST charged is presented at service centre

Medicare account or receipt with GST charged is lodged by Medicare online account, myGov app, phone or mail

Medicare account or receipt with GST charged is presented at service centre

Table 1: this table describes the process to follow when a claimant presents their Medicare claim account or receipt at a service centre for a Medicare benefit and they have been charged GST.

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Step

Action

1

Contact health professional

Can contact be made with the health professional?

2

Process Medicare patient claim

Process the Medicare patient claim with the confirmed service details and amended charge (deducting the GST amount).

If the health professional cannot confirm or refuses to update the charged amount, either pay the account or receipt minus the GST amount, or go to Step 3.

Note: Service Officers must complete a VG4 or sticky note and attach to claim.

3

Return Medicare patient claim to claimant

Return the Medicare account or receipt to the claimant to follow up with the health professional as Medicare payments and services are GST free.


Medicare account or receipt with GST charged is lodged by Medicare online account, myGov app, phone or mail

Table 2: this table describes the process to follow when a Medicare account or receipt that includes a GST charge is lodged by Medicare online account, myGov app, phone or mail.

Expand table

Step

Action

1

Process Medicare patient claim

Process the Medicare patient claim with the charge minus the GST amount and pay the Medicare benefit.

2

Copy and endorse Medicare account or receipt

Photocopy or print the Medicare account or receipt and endorse the copy with 'Medicare benefit paid'.

Endorsing the account avoids any possible confusion over whether the benefit has been paid once the GST component has been refunded to the claimant.

3

Return copy of Medicare account or receipt by post

Return by post to the claimant:

  • the copy of the account or receipt, and
  • a letter from Services Australia advising Medicare benefits and services are GST free

The Resources page contains link to the letter Medicare services are GST free Z1486.