Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015
I, Ian Laughlin, delegate of APRA make these Rules under subsection 174(1) of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015.
This instrument takes effect on the day the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015 commences.
Dated: 26 June 2015
[Signed]
Ian Laughlin
Deputy Chairman
Contents
Part 1 – Preliminary 4
1. Name of Rules 4
2. Commencement 4
3. Definitions 4
Part 2 – Procedure relating to voluntary deeds of arrangement 5
4. Interpretation 5
5. Convening of meetings 5
6. Procedure for convening of the meeting 5
7. Conduct of the meeting 6
8. Matters that may be decided at the meeting 8
9. External managers recommendations to APRA 8
10. Actions APRA may take 8
Part 3 – Modifications of terms in applied Corporations Act provisions 10
11. Modifications 10
12. Specified terms 10
Part 4 – Modifications of Part 5.3A and Division 7A of Part 5.6 12
13. Modifications for subparagraph 50 (1) (b) (ii) of the Act 12
14. Subsection 440D (1) 12
15. Subsections 440J (2) and (3) 12
16. Subsection 441B (2) 12
17. Subsection 441B (3) 12
18. Section 441C 12
19. Section 441E 12
20. Subsection 441F (2) 13
21. Subsection 441F (3) 13
22. Subsection 441G (2) 13
23. Section 441J 13
24. Subsection 442D (2) 13
25. Subsection 442F (1) 13
26. Subsection 442F (2) 14
27. Subsections 444A (1), (2) and (3) 14
28. Paragraph 444A (4) (b) 14
29. Paragraph 444A (4) (d) 14
30. Paragraph 444A (4) (i) 14
31. Subsection 444A (5) 15
32. Section 444B 15
33. Subsection 444B (2) 15
34. Subsection 444B (4) 15
35. Subsection 444B (5) 15
36. Subsection 444B (7) 15
37. Subsection 444C (1) 15
38. Paragraphs 444D (2) (a) and (3) (a) 16
39. Subsection 444E (4) 16
40. Subsections 444F (1) and (2) 16
41. Subsection 444F (2) 16
42. Subsection 444F (4) 16
43. Section 444G 16
44. Section 444H 17
45. Section 445A 17
46. Paragraph 445D (1) (b) 17
47. Paragraph 445D (2) (b) 18
48. Section 445E 18
49. Subsection 445G (1) 18
50. Subsection 447A (2) 18
51. Paragraphs 447A (4) (a) and (d) 18
52. Paragraph 447A (4) (e) 18
53. Subsection 447B (1) 18
54. Sections 447D and 447E 19
55. Subsection 447E (3) 19
56. Subsection 450A (1) 19
57. Subsection 450A (2) 19
58. Subsection 450A (3) 19
59. Subsection 450A (4) 19
60. Paragraph 450C (b) 20
61. Subsection 568 (1) 20
62. Paragraph 568 (1) (h) 20
63. Subsections 568 (1AA) and 568 (9) 20
64. Subsection 568D (1) 20
Part 5 – Modifications of sections 128 and 129 21
65. Modifications for subsection 55 (2) of the Act 21
66. Sections 128 and 129 21
67. Subsection 129 (2) 21
68. After subsection 129 (5) 21
69. After subsection 129 (6) 21
70. After section 129 22
Part 6 – Transition arrangements 23
Part 1 – Preliminary
1. Name of Rules
These Rules are the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015.
2. Commencement
These Rules commence on the day the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015 commences.
3. Definitions
Note: Terms used in these Rules have the same meaning as in the Act – see section 13 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. These terms include:
applied Corporations Act provision
APRA
external manager
health benefits fund
private health insurer
responsible insurer
voluntary deed of arrangement
In these Rules:
Act means the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015.
Corporations Act means the Corporations Act 2001.
PHIAC means the Private Health Insurance Administration Council.
Part 2 – Procedure relating to voluntary deeds of arrangement
4. Interpretation
In this Part, a reference to a creditor of a health benefits fund includes a policy holder of the fund.
5. Convening of meetings
The external manager of a health benefits fund may convene a meeting of the creditors of the fund to consider the possibility of the responsible insurer executing a deed of arrangement proposed by the external manager.
6. Procedure for convening of the meeting
(1) If the external manager decides to convene a meeting to consider the possibility of the responsible insurer executing a deed of arrangement proposed by the external manager, the external manager must:
(a) give notice to APRA at the same time that the manager gives notice to the creditors; and
(b) give written notice of the meeting to as many of the creditors as reasonably practicable; and
(c) cause notice of the meeting to be published:
(i) in a national newspaper; or
(ii) in each jurisdiction in which the business of the fund is carried on – in a daily newspaper that circulates generally in that jurisdiction;
at least 14 business days before the meeting.
(2) The notice given to creditors and APRA under subrule (1) must be accompanied by:
(a) a report by the external manager about the business, property, affairs and financial circumstances of the fund; and
(b) a statement setting out details of the proposed deed of arrangement; and
(c) a statement setting out the external manager’s opinion as to why it would be in the interests of the creditors of the fund for the responsible insurer to execute such a deed of arrangement.
(3) If:
(a) telephone or electronic conference facilities are expected to be available at the place where the meeting is to be held; and
(b) the external manager considers that, having regard to all the circumstances, it will be appropriate to use those facilities, the notice of the meeting must:
(i) set out the relevant telephone number; and
(ii) indicate that a person, or the proxy of a person, who wishes to participate in the meeting by telephone must give to the external manager, not later than the second-last working day before the day on which the meeting is to be held, a written statement setting out:
(A) the name of the person and of the proxy (if any); and
(B) an address to which notices to the person or proxy may be sent; and
(C) a telephone number at which the person or proxy may be contacted; and
(D) a facsimile transmission number (if any) to which notices to the person or proxy may be sent; and
(E) that a person, or the proxy of a person, who participates in the meeting by telephone must pay any costs incurred by the person or proxy in participating and is not entitled to be reimbursed for those costs from the assets of the fund.
7. Conduct of the meeting
(1) The external manager is to preside at a meeting convened under this rule.
(2) Such a meeting may be adjourned from time to time at the discretion of the external manager, but may not be adjourned to a day more than 30 days after the first day on which the meeting was held.
(3) If a person, or a person’s proxy, who wishes to participate in a meeting by means of telephone conference facilities, has given the external manager a statement in accordance with subparagraph 6 (3) (b) (ii), the external manager must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the person, or the person’s proxy, is contacted before the start of the meeting on the telephone number provided by that person.
(4) The external manager must also take all reasonable steps to ensure that the person or proxy can hear the proceedings, and can be heard, by means of those facilities.
(5) A person who, or whose proxy, participates in the meeting by telephone under this rule is taken to be present in person at the meeting.
(6) A quorum for the meeting consists of:
(a) if the number of persons entitled to vote exceeds 2 – at least 2 of those persons; or
(b) if only one person is, or 2 persons are, entitled to vote – that person or those persons,
present in person or by proxy.
(7) A meeting may be held if all the persons who are entitled to attend, and to vote at, the meeting agree, even if it has not been convened in accordance with these Rules.
(8) If, within 30 minutes after the time appointed for a meeting:
(a) a quorum is not present; or
(b) the meeting is not otherwise sufficiently constituted,
the meeting is adjourned:
(c) to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place; or
(d) to the day (not being less than 7 or more than 21 days after the day on which the meeting is adjourned) and at the time and place that the external manager thinks are most convenient for the majority of persons entitled to attend the meeting.
(9) The external manager must, without delay, give written notice of the adjournment to the persons to whom notice of the meeting must be given under rule 6.
(10) If within 30 minutes after the time appointed for the adjourned meeting:
(a) a quorum is not present; or
(b) the meeting is not otherwise sufficiently constituted,
(c) the adjourned meeting lapses.
(11) A resolution is carried if:
(a) a majority of the creditors voting (whether in person or by proxy) vote in favour of the resolution; and
(b) the value of the debts owed by the fund to those voting in favour of the resolution is more than half the total debts owed to all the creditors voting (whether in person or by proxy).
8. Matters that may be decided at the meeting
At meetings convened in accordance with these Rules, the creditors must resolve:
(a) that the responsible insurer execute:
(i) the deed of arrangement proposed by the external manager; or
(ii) a different deed of arrangement from that originally proposed by the administrator; or
(b) to reject the deed.
9. External managers recommendations to APRA
(1) If the creditors have made a resolution referred to in paragraph 8 (a), the external manager must recommend in the report to APRA under section 59 of the Act, that APRA approve the execution of the deed, unless subrule (2) applies.
(2) The external manager must not recommend that APRA approve the execution of the deed if:
(a) the deed has been varied by the meeting and the external manager is not satisfied that the varied deed is, in the circumstances, still protective of the interests of the policy holders of the fund; or
(b) the deed limits the rights of a creditor or creditors unless, in the opinion of the external manager, the fund is insolvent or likely to become insolvent at some future time.
(3) For paragraph (2) (b), a deed will be taken to limit the rights of a creditor or creditors if it involves:
(a) removing or limiting the right of a creditor to the payment of a debt or other liability, or removing or limiting a creditor’s entitlement to an asset; or
(b) delaying the right of a creditor to make or enforce a claim for the payment of a debt or other liability, or delaying the right of a creditor to make or enforce the creditor’s entitlement to an asset.
10. Actions APRA may take
(1) If APRA is satisfied that the execution of the deed as recommended in the report of the external manager will, in the circumstances, be in the interests of policy holders of the fund, APRA must, by written notice:
(a) inform the external manager that it approves the execution of the deed; and
(b) request the preparation of the deed for execution.
(2) If APRA is not satisfied that the execution of the deed as recommended in the report of the external manager will be, in the circumstances, in the interests of policy holders of the fund, APRA must, by written notice:
(a) inform the external manager to that effect; and
(b) request that the external manager:
(i) seek another meeting of the creditors to consider a further voluntary deed of arrangement; or
(ii) examine other possible courses of action,
and, on the basis of that further meeting or examination, to make a further report to APRA under section 59 of the Act within a time specified by APRA.
(3) If the external manager provides a further report to APRA in accordance with paragraph (2) (b), this rule, other than subparagraph (2) (b) (i), applies in respect of that report as if it were the original report of the external manager.
Part 3 – Modifications of terms in applied Corporations Act provisions
11. Modifications
For subparagraph 50 (1) (b) (ii) and subsection 55 (2) of the Act, if an applied Corporations Act provision includes a term specified in rule 12, the provision applies as if a reference to the specified term were a reference to the term as modified by rule 12.
12. Specified terms
(1) The following terms are modified as set out in this rule:
(a) board of the company, in relation to a responsible insurer, is modified to mean, as the case may be for a particular insurer:
(i) the board of directors; or
(ii) committee of management; or
(iii) other governing body; and
(b) company is modified to mean the responsible insurer; and
(c) company secretary is modified to mean in relation to a responsible insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act, the secretary of the insurer or person who carries out the role similar to a company secretary; and
(d) creditor, in relation to a fund, is modified to include a policy holder of the fund; and
(e) director or director of a company or of a fund, for a responsible insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act, is modified to include a member of the committee of management, or other governing body, of the insurer; and
(f) deed of company arrangement is modified to mean a voluntary deed of arrangement agreed on at a meeting convened under the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015; and
(g) lodge is modified to include that the document to be lodged must be lodged at the same time with APRA; and
(h) officer is modified to mean an 'officer' within the meaning of that word in the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015; and
(i) resolution, in relation to creditors and policy holders, is modified to mean a resolution agreed on at a meeting convened under the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015.
(2) References in an applied Corporations Act provision to Parts or Divisions of the Corporations Act are taken to also include a reference to the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015 and the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015.
Part 4 – Modifications of Part 5.3A and Division 7A of Part 5.6
13. Modifications for subparagraph 50 (1) (b) (ii) of the Act
For subparagraph 50 (1) (b) (ii) of the Act, the applied Corporations Act provisions mentioned in this Part are modified as set out in this Part.
14. Subsection 440D (1)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in subsection 440D (1) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
Note: Subsection 56 (2) of the Act provides for the matters to which the external manager or the Court must have regard.
15. Subsections 440J (2) and (3)
omit the subsections
16. Subsection 441B (2)
omit
437C, 440B, 440F or 440G
insert
440B, or section 71 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
17. Subsection 441B (3)
omit
437D
insert
75 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
18. Section 441C
omit the section
19. Section 441E
omit
437C or 440B
insert
440B, or section 71 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
20. Subsection 441F (2)
omit
437C or 440B
insert
440B, or section 71 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
21. Subsection 441F (3)
omit
437D
insert
75 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
22. Subsection 441G (2)
omit the subsection
23. Section 441J
omit
437C or 440C
insert
440B, or section 71 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015,
24. Subsection 442D (2)
omit the subsection
25. Subsection 442F (1)
omit
this Act
insert
the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015 and any applied Corporations Act provision as modified.
26. Subsection 442F (2)
omit the subsection
27. Subsections 444A (1), (2) and (3)
omit the subsections
substitute
(1) This section applies where, at a meeting of creditors convened under the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015, a fund’s creditors resolve that the responsible insurer execute a voluntary deed of arrangement.
(2) The external manager of the fund is to be the administrator of the deed, unless the creditors, by resolution passed at the meeting, appoint someone else to be administrator of the deed, and APRA, by notice in writing, approves the resolution.
(3) If APRA, by notice in writing, has approved the execution of the deed, the administrator of the deed must prepare an instrument setting out the terms of the deed.
28. Paragraph 444A (4) (b)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the second occurring reference in paragraph 444A (4) (b) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
29. Paragraph 444A (4) (d)
omit the paragraph
substitute
(d) to what extent the company is to be released from its debts in so far as the debts are debts of the fund
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in paragraph 444A (4) (d) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
30. Paragraph 444A (4) (i)
omit
deed
insert
deed;
(j) the number of policy holders of the fund, and the total amount owing to policy holders.
31. Subsection 444A (5)
omit the subsection
32. Section 444B
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the references in section 444B of the Corporations Act to 'the company' are not to be taken as references to 'the fund'
33. Subsection 444B (2)
omit
The company
insert
If APRA, by notice in writing, has approved the execution of the deed, the company
34. Subsection 444B (4)
omit
437C
insert
71 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015
35. Subsection 444B (5)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in subsection 444B (5) of the Corporations Act to 'the proposed administrator' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the external manager'.
36. Subsection 444B (7)
omit the subsection
37. Subsection 444C (1)
omit
section 439A
insert
the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in subsection 444C (1) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
38. Paragraphs 444D (2) (a) and (3) (a)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the references in paragraphs 444D (2) (a) and (3) (a) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' are not to be taken as references to 'the fund'.
39. Subsection 444E (4)
omit the words after the colon
substitute
property, in relation to the fund, includes property used for the purposes of the business of the fund.
40. Subsections 444F (1) and (2)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the references in subsections 444F (1) and (2) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' are not to be taken as references to 'the fund'.
41. Subsection 444F (2)
omit
Subject to subsection 441A (3), the
insert
The
42. Subsection 444F (4)
omit the subsection
substitute
The Court may order the owner or lessor of property that is used for the purposes of the business of the fund not to take possession of the property or otherwise recover it.
43. Section 444G
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in section 444G of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
44. Section 444H
After the word 'debt', insert
that is a debt of the fund.
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the first occurring reference in section 444H of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
45. Section 445A
omit the section
substitute
(1) A deed of company arrangement may be varied by a resolution passed at a meeting of the company’s creditors convened under section 445F, but only if:
(a) the variation is not materially different from a proposed variation set out in the notice of the meeting; and
(b) APRA, having regard to a recommendation of the administrator of the deed given to APRA, and any other information APRA thinks relevant, approves the variation.
(2) In deciding whether to approve the variation, APRA may:
(a) request the administrator to provide further information relating to the variation or the recommendation; and
(b) engage any person to assist it in evaluating assessments made, or projections relied on, by the administrator in relation to the recommendation.
(3) In this section, despite paragraph 50 (4) (b) of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015:
(a) references to 'the administrator' are not to be taken as references to 'the external manager'; and
(b) administrator means the administrator of the voluntary deed of arrangement agreed on under the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015.
46. Paragraph 445D (1) (b)
omit
subsection 439A (4)
insert
the Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2015
47. Paragraph 445D (2) (b)
omit the paragraph
48. Section 445E
omit the section
49. Subsection 445G (1)
omit
ASIC
insert
APRA
50. Subsection 447A (2)
omit the subsection
51. Paragraphs 447A (4) (a) and (d)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the references in paragraphs 447A (4) (a) and (d) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' are not to be taken as references to 'the fund'.
52. Paragraph 447A (4) (e)
omit
ASIC
insert
APRA
53. Subsection 447B (1)
omit
ASIC
insert
APRA
54. Sections 447D and 447E
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, references in sections 447D and 447E to the administrator of a voluntary deed of arrangement, including a deed varied in accordance with an applied Corporations Act provision as modified, are to be read as referring to the administrator of the deed.
55. Subsection 447E (3)
omit
ASIC
insert
APRA
56. Subsection 450A (1)
omit
436A, 436B or 436C
insert
51 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015
57. Subsection 450A (2)
omit the subsection
substitute
(2) As soon as practicable, and in any event before the end of the next business day, after appointing an external manager under section 51 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015, APRA must give written notice of the appointment to the responsible insurer.
58. Subsection 450A (3)
omit
436A, 436B or 436C
insert
51 of the Private Health Insurance (Prudential Supervision) Act 2015
59. Subsection 450A (4)
omit the subsection
60. Paragraph 450C (b)
omit
of the company’s creditors
insert
policy holder
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, a reference in section 450C of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
61. Subsection 568 (1)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the second reference in subsection 568 (1) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
62. Paragraph 568 (1) (h)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in paragraph 568 (1) (h) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
63. Subsections 568 (1AA) and 568 (9)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, references in subsection 568 (1AA) and subsection 568 (9) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' are not to be taken as references to 'the fund'.
64. Subsection 568D (1)
Despite subsection 50 (4) of the Act, the reference in subsection 568D (1) of the Corporations Act to 'the company' is not to be taken as a reference to 'the fund'.
Part 5 – Modifications of sections 128 and 129
65. Modifications for subsection 55 (2) of the Act
For subsection 55 (2) of the Act, the applied Corporations Act provisions mentioned in this Part are modified as set out in this Part.
66. Sections 128 and 129
In sections 128 and 129 of the Corporations Act:
company means a private health insurer.
officer includes:
(a) for a private health insurer that is a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act – a director of the company; and
(b) for any other private health insurer – a member of the committee of management, or other governing authority, of the insurer; and
(c) if a person has been appointed as a receiver of the property of a private health insurer and manages, or has, under the terms of the receiver’s appointment, power to manage, the affairs of the insurer – the receiver.
67. Subsection 129 (2)
omit
from ASIC
68. After subsection 129 (5)
insert
(5A) For a private health insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act, a person may assume that a document has been duly executed by the insurer if the document appears to have been signed in accordance with subsection 129A (1).
69. After subsection 129 (6)
insert
(6A) For a private health insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act, a person may assume that a document has been duly executed by the insurer if:
(a) the common seal of the insurer appears to have been fixed to the document in accordance with subsection 129A (2); and
(b) the fixing of the common seal appears to have been witnessed in accordance with that subsection.
70. After section 129
insert
129A Execution of documents (including deeds) by a private health insurer that is not a company
(1) A private health insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act may execute a document without using a common seal if the document is signed by 2 directors or by 2 members of the management committee, or other governing body, of the insurer.
(2) A private health insurer that is not a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act and that has a common seal, has executed a document if the seal is fixed to the document and the fixing of the seal is witnessed by 2 directors or by 2 members of the management committee, or other governing body, of the insurer.
Part 6 – Transition arrangements
Any approval, determination or other exercise of discretion by PHIAC under Private Health Insurance (Health Benefits Fund Enforcement) Rules 2007 as they existed prior to 1 July 2015 will continue to have effect following 1 July 2015 as though exercised pursuant to a corresponding power under these Rules.
