In 1996, the Australian Government introduced Medicare provider number restrictions to improve the quality of Australia’s medical workforce over the longer term and to address growing concerns about the maldistribution of the medical workforce. Since 1997, doctors who obtained their primary medical qualification overseas have been required to gain an exemption under section 19AB of the Act in order to access Medicare benefits for the services they provide. Exemptions under the Act are generally only granted if the medical practitioner works in a recognised area of workforce shortage, as defined by the Australian Government.
