Medical Indemnity Insurance

• 24-hour medico-legal advice– expertise and support when you need it most.
• Member Online Services– access your insurance documents at your convenience, update your details, access Member-only resources and online education. 
• Practice Indemnity Policy– recommended in addition to your own professional indemnity policy, to protect your practice entity and practice staff.
• Accredited education– gain CPD (continuing professional development) points from our extensive suite of education, which we believe is unrivalled in Australian medical indemnity today.
• Support in Practice– personalised services to assist you in managing your professional risk.
• Starting In Private Practice– resources and guidance on starting in private practice, from billings and fees to advertising guidelines and the management of patient records.
• Part of your profession– doctors are an integral part of MDA National with key roles on our Mutual Board, our group and management committees, and on staff. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing to MDA National.
• Experienced medico-legal advisers and case managers – with broad medico-legal experience, and healthcare and legal qualifications.
• Industry events– in addition to hosting our own events, we participate in industry events across the country via sponsorship, and by providing education to the medical profession.
• Doctors for Doctors Program– confidential peer support during medico-legal matters, exempt from mandatory reporting.
• Professional Support Service– complimentary and confidential professional support from an independent psychiatrist, should you need it during a medico-legal matter. 
• Defence Update– periodical publication and blog to keep you up-to-date with relevant practical medico-legal advice and case studies. 
• Specialty Updates– supplements for key specialties to inform you of emerging risks and specialty specific medico-legal matters.
• Financial stability– responsible stewardship of Members’ funds. We manage all elements of a strong insurance business and invest in Member value by delivering quality support services. 
• Up to 20% off medical publications, reference and text books.
• Corporate Social Responsibility– giving back to our community, including a Charity of Choice association with Beyondblue to help support doctors’ mental health. 
• Local presence, national support with offices in NSW, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC and WA.

^*Provided that the Maximum Limit of Indemnity is not exceeded.
†A copy of the Policy Wording is available at mdanational.com.au/Downloads. 

For more information please read our Professional Indemnity Insurance Policy Combined Financial Services Guide (FSG), Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Policy Wording and Supplementary FSG and PDS including Amendments to the Policy Wording from our Download Center.

Here are some links to assist and guide you with the Australian healthcare system.

Overview of the Australian healthcare system

• Department of Health – The DoctorConnect website has been developed by the Department of Health to assist doctors trained outside Australia

Registration

• Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Agency – AHPRA is the national regulating body for medical practitioners
• Medical Board of Australia – the Board regulates Australia’s medical practitioners
• The Medical Board website includes a page on the types of registration and pathways for international medical graduates
• The Medical Board’s codes, guidelines and policies
• The Medical Board’s mandatory registration standards
• Strict control of title use – see the information on protected titles and also AHPRA’s list of specialities

National standards bodies and other relevant organisations

• The Australian Medical Council – recognition of overseas medical qualifications
• The Australian Medical Association (AMA) – a membership organisation representing registered medical practitioners in Australia
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners – Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation

National healthcare funding system

• Overview of Medicare
• Doing business with Medicare electronically
• Overview of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• Information for PBS prescribers
• PBS for new health professionals
• Department of Health information on drug scheduling
• Prescribing Schedule 8 drugs
• Online education modules on the PBS and Medicare

Overview of insurance requirements 

• Private indemnity vs employer indemnity – if you work in the hospital system, your employer will provide some indemnity, however hospital indemnity may not always provide the broad cover that you need. Without your own medical indemnity cover you could be liable to personally fund some medico-legal matters brought against you.
• Premium Support Scheme (PSS)  – a government scheme to assist eligible medical practitioners to meet the costs of their professional indemnity premiums.
• Run off Cover Scheme (ROCS) – a government scheme designed to provide secure insurance for eligible medical practitioners who have left private practice.

Selected MDA National resources and brochures

• Complaints handling
• Medical Records
• Medico-legal Blog – subscribe to stay informed on medico-legal issues, recent court judgments and legislative updates as they arise
• Resources section – search articles and case studies on a range of medico-legal topics

Tips

• Doctors Speak Up – this website has excellent tips, information, videos and activities to address the language and communication needs of international medical graduates (IMGs)
• RACGP Working as a General Practitioner in Australia Guide