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What is MyMedicare?
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration system for general practice which will formalise the relationship between patients, their regular practice and GP.
MyMedicare will provide practices with access to triple bulk-billing incentives, as well as blended funding packages to support patients that are frequent hospital users or in residential aged care.
Patients that register with their regular general practice in MyMedicare will receive improved continuity of care, easier access to telehealth consultations and will have access to services tailored to their needs.
Key points:
- Registration is voluntary and open to all Australians with a Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veteran Card.
- Practices need to be registered before patients can be linked to the practice.
- Patients are now able to register anytime.
- MyMedicare registration will not prevent patients from accessing care from other practices and health care providers.
- The longer MBS telehealth items and the new Aged Care and frequent hospital users incentives will be linked to the patient’s registered practice.
Important dates to remember
Registration process for eligible general practices started in July 2023 and patients have been able to register from 1 October 2023. Other key dates to remember are found below:
How to register your practice?
To register in MyMedicare as a general practice, you must:
- make sure your practice is eligible
- link an organisation in PRODA to Health Professional Online Services (HPOS).
- access the Organisation Register in HPOS to:
a) Register your practice
b) link your eligible GP providers
For more information on registering your practice, use this checklist or visit the Services Australia Health Professional Education website.
Once registered as a practice, manage your patient list to ensure eligible patients are accepted within 30 days of registration. If pending registrations remain dormant for more than 30 days, they will expire, and the patient will be required to re-register.
How to register your patients?
Patients can register in one of the following ways:
- Online through their Medicare online account or Express Plus Medicare mobile app.
- The general practice can start the registration in MyMedicare for patients to complete online.
- By filling out an updated MyMedicare registration form at the practice. Once this form is completed, the practice needs to enter the patient information into the MyMedicare system.
Practices must retain copies of all MyMedicare registration forms in line with Federal, State or Territory legislation and compliance policies.
Patients who register with a DVA Veteran Card will need to fill out a registration form at the practice as registration via Medicare online services can only be completed using a Medicare card.
A parent/guardian will need to register a child under 14 years and provide consent on their behalf and people aged 14 to 17 years will be able to register and provide consent without a parent/guardian. It is important to note that registration for a child under 14 years will need to be completed at the practice.
Practices may wish to consider registering their patients in batches starting by identifying and registering those that will initially benefit most from MyMedicare through funded longer telehealth appointments. These patients may include those with mental health issues; people with disability or reduced mobility; and older Australians.
Ensure providers are linked to their practice so that patients can select their preferred GP upon registration.
Both the practice and patient must both provide consent via the above registration methods for MyMedicare registration to be successful.
MyMedicare patient resources are available on the MyMedicare website and have recently been updated to include translated patient information in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Greek, Italian, Korean, and Vietnamese. Animation videos are also available for patients to access. Tailored resources for First Nations people are currently in development.
MBS bulk billing incentives from 1 November 2023
From 1 November 2023, there have been significant changes to the MBS to increase bulk billing incentives. 13 new bulk billing incentives were added to the MBS for Commonwealth concession card holders and people under 16.
There are also additional longer telehealth items linked to MyMedicare registered patients. These items include:
- longer MBS-funded telephone calls (Levels C and D) with the patient’s MyMedicare registered practice
- a triple bulk billing incentive for longer MBS telehealth consultations (Levels C, D and E) for children under 16, pensioners, and concession card holders. Level E consultation is available also using video call only.
Find out more at RACGP MBS updates and MBS online or complete the Services Australia – Bulk Bill Incentive Items Module
MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI)
The Australian Government is funding the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) to support aged care residents to receive quality primary care services from their regular GP and practice. The incentive aims to improve continuity of care and reduce avoidable hospitalisations.
From 1 July 2024, eligible providers and practices registered with MyMedicare will be able to receive incentive payments providing regular visits and care planning to older people living in a Residential Aged Care Home, rather than at their practice.
General practices must be an eligible practice and registered in the:
- Organisation Register
- MyMedicare program (with banking details added)
- General Practice in Aged Care Incentive program
Providers must be:
- an eligible provider
- linked to their eligible practice
- declared as the responsible provider of eligible services to the registered patient, including coordinating services provided by the care team.
Practices and providers will be able to register for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive through the MyMedicare program from 1 July 2024.
For more information, download the fact sheet on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Does your practice need assistance with MyMedicare?
The Australian Association of Practice Managers (AAPM) have partnered with the Department of Health and Aged Care to assist with the implementation of MyMedicare. Practices can contact the AAPM National Office on 1800 196 000 or via email nationaloffice@aapm.org.au for support.
For assistance using the Organisation Register and the MyMedicare program, practices can email Organisation.Register@servicesaustralia.gov.au, or contact the Services Australia help desk on 132 150 and select option 2.
Helpful resources
A range of MyMedicare resources are available online including fact sheets, frequently asked questions, registration information as well as posters and brochures, see:
- MyMedicare GP toolkit
- MyMedicare QuIK Tip
- Resources for general practices
- Resources for MyMedicare patients
Webinars
Find past and upcoming webinars about MyMedicare at the Department of Health and Aged Care.
For further information about patient or practice registration please see the MyMedicare webpage or contact our Quality Improvement Team at primarycare@chnact.org.au.