Medicare Assignment of Benefit Rules Revised: Verbal Consent Extended, Compliance Delayed
The Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has announced revisions to Medicare assignment of benefit rules, set to take effect from 1 July 2026. The changes introduce a 12-month period for verbal consent and delay commencement of compliance activities.
Key Changes and Timelines
The revised rules include the following adjustments:
- Verbal Consent: Verbal consent for bulk billing will be accepted in all settings for a 12-month period commencing 1 July 2026, until July 2027.
- Enduring Assignment of Benefit: Provisions for enduring assignment of benefit will commence from 1 July 2026, rather than April 2027 as previously planned.
- Eligibility: The enduring assignment of benefit option will be available for:
- MyMedicare-registered patients
- Residential aged care patients
- Patients attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
- Multiple Sites: Patients at ACCHOs may register enduring assignment of benefit at multiple sites.
- Compliance: Compliance activities will not begin until all regulatory changes are in place. The approach will prioritise prevention and education.
- Record Keeping: The requirement to store evidence of consent for two years remains unchanged.
Background
Previously, the planned changes would have required general practitioners (GPs) to obtain and store a physical or digital signature from each patient for each occasion of care. Concerns were raised regarding patients in aged care and disability settings who lacked capacity to consent without a nominated representative.
Clinics retain the option to collect consent prior to a consultation and may do so digitally.
Statements
"We have heard the concerns raised by stakeholders on these changes. We want to make accessing healthcare easier not harder, for all Australians."
— Government spokesperson
"If you're already ready with some digital solutions and you're comfortable using them, feel free to continue. For those who weren't quite ready yet, this buys more time."
— Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Dr. Danielle McMullen
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) president Dr. Michael Wright said the changes address immediate relief for GPs in aged care and other sectors, and reflect government recognition that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work across all care settings. He noted that not all concerns have been addressed and further advocacy will continue.