The PSR Scheme safeguards the integrity of the Medicare benefits and pharmaceutical benefits programs from:

1. inappropriate practice by ensuring that the Commonwealth-funded services delivered by practitioners are clinically relevant

2. the consequences of inappropriate practice by ensuring that payments to claimants are made in accordance with the regulations for the Medicare benefits and pharmaceutical benefits programs.

The PSR Scheme has continued to evolve since its inception. Legislative amendments were made in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2006, 2012, and 2018 to strengthen the Professional Services Review process. Comprehensive reviews were conducted in 1999 and 2006 by government and key stakeholders. A Senate inquiry in 2011 also made recommendations to refine the administration of the scheme, and improve its effectiveness and transparency.

PSR has acted on the recommendations from these (and other) reviews. It continues to strengthen its governance processes and build its capacity to deliver a rigorous peer review scheme that affords procedural fairness to practitioners, and meets the outcome of protecting the integrity of the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits schemes.