Changes to Assignment of Medicare Benefits Consent From 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, there will be Australia-wide changes to how patients provide consent when a Medicare service is bulk billed.

For most patients, there will be no change to the usual payment process. You will continue to pay your consultation fee on the day and claim your Medicare rebate as usual. These changes only apply if your practitioner bulk bills a Medicare service.

What is changing?

From 1 July 2026, verbal consent for bulk billing will no longer be accepted, including for phone and telehealth appointments. If your practitioner bulk bills a Medicare service, you, or a responsible or authorised person acting on your behalf, will need to complete an Assignment of Medicare Benefits agreement before the Medicare claim can be submitted. Without this completed agreement, Medicare cannot pay the benefit directly to the practitioner for that bulk-billed service.

What is Assignment of Medicare Benefits?

Assignment of Medicare Benefits is where you agree for your Medicare benefit to be paid directly to your practitioner as full payment for a bulk-billed service. This consent applies to the specific bulk-billed service or claim. It is not ongoing consent for all future appointments.

How will I complete the consent if it is required?

For most patients, we expect this to be a quick and simple process. You may be asked to complete your bulk billing consent:

• through the HotDoc app, SMS or email;

• on our Tyro terminal at reception; or

• on a paper form at the clinic, if required.

For face-to-face appointments where your practitioner bulk bills a service, our reception team will guide you through the process.

For phone or telehealth appointments where your practitioner bulk bills a service, you may receive a consent request by SMS, email or through the HotDoc app after your appointment.

Please complete this as soon as possible, as the Medicare claim cannot be submitted until the consent has been completed.

What if I do not use HotDoc, SMS or email?

If you do not have a mobile phone or email address, or you are unable to complete the electronic consent, please let our reception team know. We may need to arrange another way for you to complete the consent. This may mean coming into the clinic before the Medicare claim can be submitted.

Can someone else complete the consent for me?

In some situations, another responsible or authorised person may be able to complete the consent on your behalf. This may include a parent, guardian, carer, person with Power of Attorney, or another appropriate person responsible for your care. The person completing the consent must be appropriate to act on your behalf.

What if I do not agree to assign my Medicare benefit?

If your practitioner is intending to bulk bill a service and you do not agree to assign your Medicare benefit, the service cannot be bulk billed. In this situation, you will be privately billed and provided with an invoice so you can claim your Medicare benefit directly from Services Australia.

What do I need to do?

For privately billed appointments, there is nothing you need to do. If Assignment of Medicare Benefits consent is required for your phone or video consultation, you may receive a consent request after your appointment by SMS, email or through the HotDoc app, where available.

Please make sure your mobile number and email address are up to date. This will help us send consent forms and other important appointment information when needed.

If you are unable to complete the consent request, or you are unsure what to do, please call us on 8360 9777 to speak with our reception team.

Thank you for your understanding.