THE Council of Australian Governments Health Council has considered a major revision to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, with a draft Bill proposing a range of reforms including the addition of paramedics to the national registration scheme.
Other changes proposed include governance improvements, enabling Chairpersons to be appointed on merit from any of the members of a National Board, not just the practitioner members.
Under a draft Bill, nursing and midwifery would be recognised as two separate professions rather than a single profession, with both continuing to be regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board.
There are also a number of proposed improvements to the management, disciplinary and enforcement powers of National Boards in relation to notifications and complaints, "to strengthen public protection and ensure fairness for complainants (notifiers) and practitioners".
The Bill is stage one of the reform process, with a second stage including broad public consultation to commence during 2017.
MEANWHILE the state, territory and federal health ministers also agreed to a national "opt-out" model for long term participation arrangements in the My Health Record system.
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