MyMedicare was announced in the May Federal budget, following recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.  This is a model of voluntary patient registration to support quality continuity of care and new blended funding models for practices and providers. 

Registration in the MyMedicare system will be voluntary for practices, providers and patients. It will formalise and strengthen the relationship between patients and their general practice, general practitioner and primary care team. 

From 1 July 2023, general practices can start getting ready for MyMedicare by ensuring they are registered in Services Australia’s PRODA, HPOS and Organisation Register systems. Practice registration will be available to practices that are accredited, or registered for accreditation, under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme. An accreditation exemption until 30 June 2025 is available to non-accredited practices (including sole providers) who deliver general practice services through mobile and outreach models, including to residential aged care, disability residential settings, First Nations Australians, rural Australia and homeless people. 

From 1 October 2023, patient registration will be available to all Australians with a Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veteran Card. Practices will be able to register their regular patients in MyMedicare and there will be options for patients to register online. 

From 1 November 2023, MBS level C and D telephone telehealth items will be available for registered patients. The triple bulk billing incentive for MBS level C, D and E telehealth items will be available for eligible patients only with their registered practice. From 1 August 2024, a new General Practice in Aged Care Incentive will become available to practices and providers regularly visiting registered patients in residential aged care homes. ² 

A new incentive will also become available for practices who agree to register complex chronic disease patients identified by public hospitals and Primary Health Networks for more appropriate management in the community. Further details on these new incentives will become available in coming months. 

In addition, from 1 November 2024 registered patients will be eligible for MBS chronic disease management plans only at the practice at which they are registered. This will reduce opportunistic claiming of these items by providers other than the patient’s usual doctor. 

In preparation for the start of MyMedicare, information on what practices need to do to get ready for MyMedicare is available at the Department of Health and Aged Care website at health.gov.au/MyMedicare and the Services Australia Health Professional Education website hpe.servicesaustralia.gov.au. 

Further information on patient eligibility requirements and registration processes will be provided by the Department ahead of patient registration from October 2023, including fact sheets and frequently asked questions that you can distribute to your members