Dental Benefits Act 2008

If a document, extract or copy has been produced under section 32C in respect of a dental service, the Chief Executive Medicare, or a Human Services employee, may do all or any of the things mentioned in subsection (2) for the purpose of ascertaining whether the information contained in the document, extract or copy properly substantiates that an amount paid, purportedly by way of dental benefit, in respect of the service, should have been paid.

If the information does not properly substantiate the amount, debt recovery action may be taken (see section 56A).

The Chief Executive Medicare or Human Services employee may:

inspect the document, extract or copy; and

make a copy of, or take an extract from, the document, extract or copy; and

retain the document, extract or copy in his or her possession for such reasonable period as he or she thinks fit.

The person otherwise entitled to possession of the document or extract is entitled to be supplied, as soon as practicable, with a copy certified by the Chief Executive Medicare, or a Human Services employee, to be a true copy.

The certified copy must be received in all courts and tribunals as evidence as if it were the original.

Until a certified copy is supplied, the Chief Executive Medicare, or a Human Services employee, must, at such times and places as he or she thinks appropriate, permit the person otherwise entitled to possession of the document or extract, or a person authorised by that person, to inspect and make copies of, or take extracts from, the document or extract.

This section is not limited by:

any other provision of this Act; or

any provision of the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973 or any other Act;

A Human Services employee referred to in this section may be an employee other than the employee to whom the document, extract or copy was required to be produced.