Remote community customers Medicare card number collection for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Safety Net 101-06100020

When a customer lives in a remote community, the Indigenous Service Officer (ISO) will attempt to collect the Medicare card number from the customer at the next contact.

Where a customer:

• is identified as a remote customer, and
• a valid Medicare card number has not been recorded on the Centrelink computer system for the customer

An online document will be recorded on the system. This will enable an ISO to identify customers in their region from whom a Medicare card number is to be collected (that is, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous customers).

The ISO will attempt to collect the Medicare number from the customer during their six weekly community visit. The ISO may also use alternative methods for the collection (where appropriate) which may include providing the community agent with the names of any customers, or where appropriate, use the community health centres.

When the number has been collected, the Agent or ISO may phone the Centrelink Call Centre to have the number manually recorded on the Centrelink computer system.

Customers will be identified as living in a remote community by the four character community code recorded on the Centrelink computer system. In addition, there are some postcodes that have been provided by ISOs as requiring inclusion in this group.

Note: an individual's Medicare number can also be used for establishing a link with the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).