To register for MyMedicare, patients must meet eligibility criteria including recent face-to-face services. In some circumstances, patients may not meet these requirements due to extenuating or unforeseen circumstances that have limited their ability to access care. In these cases, an exemption may be applied by the practice when registering the patient.
On 18 June 2026, the Federal Government has announced amendments to the planned changes to the new assignment of benefit process, effective 1 July 2026.
From 1 July 2026, changes to the Assignment of Benefit (AoB) process will take effect for all Medicare bulk billed services. The updates introduce a new approach to how patient consent is collected and recorded, with a stronger focus on clear, auditable agreements between patients and providers.
Updated MyMedicare resources are now available, including revised program guidelines, registration forms and patient materials. These updates improve clarity around eligibility, consent and exemption pathways, and include new options for extenuating circumstances. Practices should ensure they are using the latest resources and processes when registering patients.
A patient’s ability to give informed consent is central to MyMedicare registration. When a patient cannot provide consent due to limited or impaired decision-making capacity, practices can register them through an authorised representative. This article outlines the key steps and what practices need to consider to ensure registration remains voluntary and reflects the patient’s preferences.
Patients with chronic conditions can access CCM through their MyMedicare‑registered practice or usual GP, with registration supporting stronger continuity of care but not required.
Patients can access chronic condition management (CCM) services through their MyMedicare practice, or if not registered, their usual GP.
Practices and providers are required to nominate their bank account details to receive payments under the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) or the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP).
MyMedicare registration supports continuity of care with a patient’s regular practice. Patients can continue accessing all the services they normally receive, even if they are not registered.
The MyMedicare Patient Privacy Notice has recently been updated to better explain how personal information is collected, used and securely shared across Services Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.