Unidentifiable child enrolments in Medicare 011-44120050

An unidentifiable child is where either, the:

• organisation caring for the child is unable to release the name of the child for privacy reasons (for example, to protect the identity of the natural mother), or
• identity of the child is not known

Special procedures were introduced for unidentifiable children to cover situations where a child is placed in the care of an organisation, and emergency medical care is required before the child's identity can be determined.

Organisations approved by a state or territory to care for unidentifiable children can apply to the Manager (Eligibility), Services Australia Canberra, for approval to operate as agencies to claim for the payment of Medicare benefits for medical services rendered to those children.

Under these arrangements, an agency can seek approval to claim Medicare benefits for medical expenses they incur where there is insufficient information to effect enrolment for the child, or to ascertain whether enrolment has already been effected.

If approval is granted:

• The agency is allocated a Medicare number, which must be quoted on all Medicare claim forms lodged by the agency for services rendered to the children in its care.
• Medicare cards are not issued.
• The Medicare numbers cannot be used for bulk bill purposes.
• The Medicare number issued to the Department of Community Services (DoCS) or any other agency is only to be used by these organisations. It is solely for unidentifiable children (where a child’s name is known this Medicare number would not be used).

• Medicare Enrolment Application form (completed by organisation approved to care for the child), and
• Written request for the child to be enrolled from the organisation (on letterhead) caring for the child.