Committee Overview

Detailed information on the PSR scheme is published in the document Your Guide to the PSR Process

The Professional Services Review Panel consists of medical practitioners and other health practitioners appointed by the Minister after consultation with the AMA and appropriate professional organisations.

From the Panel, the Minister appoints Deputy Directors, who chair Professional Services Review Committees (PSRCs). A PSRC includes a Deputy Director and generally two panel members from the same peer group or profession as the person under review.

A new PSRC is established for each practitioner under review. The person under review may challenge the appointment of a member of a committee, on the basis that the person is biased, may be biased, or might reasonably be thought to be biased. If the Director of PSR decides that the challenge is valid, another person is appointed to the PSRC.

The operation and proceedings of PSRCs are designed to facilitate the prompt determination of referrals with a minimum of formality and an absence of legal technicality.

PSRCs comprise medical, optometry, dental, physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathic, midwife or nurse practitioners, as the case requires. Other than the broad guidance provided by ss97 - 103, the PSRC can conduct its business as it sees fit and may inform itself as it sees fit. Like the Director of PSR, a PSRC can require production of documents or information.

The PSRC will investigate the concerns and prepare a draft report on whether or not the person under review has engaged in inappropriate practice. A copy will be forwarded to the person under review with an invitation to reply within one month. After the one-month period has expired, the PSRC must prepare a final report, taking into consideration any submissions from the person under review. The report is then forwarded to the Director of PSR and the person under review. PSRC must give the final report to the Determining Authority not earlier than 28 days after the day on which the copies of the report are given to the person under review. (Refer to s106 of the Health Insurance Act 1973).