Ombudsman Act 1976

The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman may, after completing an investigation under section 20T:

report to the Health Minister on the outcome of the investigation and any mediation conducted as part of the investigation (including any recommendations made to the subject of the investigation); and

make recommendations to the Health Minister:

concerning general changes in regulatory practice or industry practices relating to that kind of subject of investigation; or

concerning possible means of dealing with specific problems arising in relation to the particular subject of the investigation.

The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman may make recommendations under paragraph (1)(b) concerning health care providers or a particular health care provider only to the extent to which the recommendations relate to:

the application of a private health insurance arrangement or a class of private health insurance arrangements to services or goods provided, or to goods manufactured or supplied, by that kind of health care provider; or

a private health insurance arrangement or a class of private health insurance arrangements to which that kind of health care provider may be party.

Before reporting to the Health Minister under this section, the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman must:

inform the subject of the investigation that the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman proposes to make the report and of the nature of any criticism of the conduct of the subject that will appear in the report; and

invite the subject to comment on such criticism, before the end of the period specified in the invitation.