FACRRM Industry Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, which body is responsible for developing registration standards for medical practitioners in Australia?
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Medical Board of Australia (Correct answer)
- Australian Medical Association
- Department of Health and Aged Care
Correct answer: Medical Board of Australia
The Medical Board of Australia develops registration standards, codes, and guidelines, while AHPRA administers the registration process.
Question 2: A rural GP prescribes Schedule 8 controlled drugs in a remote area. Which document primarily governs their prescribing obligations at the state/territory level?
- Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth)
- State/Territory Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Legislation (Correct answer)
- National Health Act 1953
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Guidelines
Correct answer: State/Territory Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Legislation
Prescribing of Schedule 8 drugs is regulated by state and territory poisons legislation, not the federal TGA Act.
Question 3: Which FACRRM competency framework standard requires rural doctors to understand their obligations under mandatory reporting legislation?
- Rural and Remote Medicine Curriculum Framework — Professionalism domain (Correct answer)
- Core Generalist Training standard only
- Advanced Specialised Training standard only
- Registration standard for supervised practice
Correct answer: Rural and Remote Medicine Curriculum Framework — Professionalism domain
The ACRRM Rural and Remote Medicine Curriculum Framework includes Professionalism as a core domain encompassing legal and ethical obligations including mandatory reporting.
Question 4: Under the National Law, a registered medical practitioner must notify AHPRA if they reasonably believe a registered health practitioner has behaved in a way that constitutes 'notifiable conduct.' Which of the following is NOT defined as notifiable conduct?
- Practising while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
- Sexual misconduct in the practice of the profession
- A significant departure from accepted professional standards posing risk of harm
- Temporarily exceeding the recommended dosing interval for a patient's antibiotic (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Temporarily exceeding the recommended dosing interval for a patient's antibiotic
Minor clinical decisions such as adjusting an antibiotic interval do not constitute notifiable conduct; the other options are explicitly defined categories.
Question 5: An FACRRM candidate working in a remote community discovers that a colleague is practising outside their scope due to resource constraints. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Immediately report to AHPRA
- Discuss the situation with the colleague and escalate to the facility director if unresolved (Correct answer)
- Document in the medical record and take no further action
- Contact the state health department directly
Correct answer: Discuss the situation with the colleague and escalate to the facility director if unresolved
Professional obligations require addressing concerns locally first before escalating externally, unless immediate patient safety risk necessitates urgent action.
Question 6: The Private Health Insurance Act 2007 (Cth) regulates private health insurers in Australia. Which federal agency administers compliance with this Act?
- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) (Correct answer)
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
Correct answer: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
APRA supervises private health insurers under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 to ensure financial stability and regulatory compliance.
Question 7: A doctor in a remote area wishes to use a telehealth service to consult with a patient interstate. Under current Medicare regulations, which requirement must generally be met for a telehealth Medicare Benefits Schedule item to be billed?
- The patient must have had a face-to-face consultation with the provider in the preceding 12 months (for most non-urgent services) (Correct answer)
- The consultation must be conducted via video only; phone is not eligible
- The patient must be enrolled in a MyHealth Record
- The provider must hold a specific telehealth endorsement on their registration
Correct answer: The patient must have had a face-to-face consultation with the provider in the preceding 12 months (for most non-urgent services)
For most ongoing telehealth MBS items, an established patient relationship (face-to-face in the prior 12 months) is required, with specific exceptions for rural/remote.
FACRRM Industry Regulations 2
Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, which body is responsible for developing registration standards for medical practitioners in Australia?