Government Revises Medicare Consent Rules Following GP Concerns
18 Jun 2026
The reforms, due to begin on 1 July, originally required GPs to obtain assignment of benefit consent each time a bulk-billed service was provided. Doctors warned this could create challenges for patients with cognitive impairment, disability or complex care needs.
Following advocacy from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Government has announced several changes aimed at reducing the impact on practices and patients.
Under the revised arrangements:
- Verbal consent will be accepted in all settings for 12 months from 1 July.
- Enduring assignment of benefit consent will be available from 1 July 2026 for MyMedicare-registered patients, aged care residents and patients attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), earlier than originally planned.
- Patients attending ACCHOs will be able to use enduring assignment of benefit across multiple sites.
- A 12-month transition period will be introduced while further work is undertaken to reduce administrative burden.
- Compliance activity will focus initially on education and prevention rather than enforcement.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright welcomed the changes, saying the college moved quickly to raise concerns with the Government and Health Minister.
He said the amendments will help protect access to care for some of the most vulnerable Australians while recognising that a single administrative approach does not suit all healthcare settings.
Dr Wright also noted that while the changes are a positive step, further improvements are still needed, particularly for patients receiving care through home visits, disability services and other settings where obtaining signatures may not always be practical.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said it had listened to feedback from stakeholders and would continue working with healthcare professionals as the reforms are implemented.
The department also confirmed that compliance measures will follow a risk-based approach, with a focus on supporting practitioners through education during the transition period.
Government Revises Medicare Consent Rules Following GP Concerns
Source: newsGP