MyMedicare

MyMedicare is Australia’s new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, general practice, GPs and primary care teams, improving equitable access for priority population groups.

Registration for general practices opened on 1 July 2023. Registration for patients open on 1 October 2023.

What is voluntary patient registration?

Voluntary patient registration is a formal, documented relationship between a patient and their self-nominated regular GP. Under MyMedicare, this relationship will be documented on My Health Record. This allows a patient’s nominated GP to be identified easily by other health care providers and services, facilitating improved communication between providers.

Benefits for practices

MyMedicare aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, GP and primary care teams. It formalises the GP’s role as central care provider, and unlocks significant benefits, including:

• access to more comprehensive information from other providers about regular patients, and a reduction in the fragmentation of care
• additional funding that is not restricted by fee-for-service, allowing greater flexibility in providing alternative models of care tailored to patient health needs
• greater support for practices and others who provide services in aged care homes.

Benefits for patients

Registration to MyMedicare helps patients access best-practice care across the health system. Benefits include:

• being able to choose and remain with a regular GP, strengthening the patient-doctor relationship
• increasing options for access to a GP and health care team, whether it’s face-to-face or via telehealth
• improving communication between patients, GP, specialists and hospitals.

Benefits for the health system

MyMedicare is an important element in building:

• greater continuity of care and improving patient outcomes
• increased capacity for multi-disciplinary teamwork in primary care
• improved communication between providers and reducing duplication of services
• targeted support for residents in aged care homes, and patients who frequently present to hospital.

How to register

For general practices

To be eligible for MyMedicare, general practices must:

• Provide Medicare-funded services.
• Be accredited against the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme. Non-accredited practices will have 12 months to register with an accreditation agency and gain accreditation.
• Be registered in:
  • Provider Digital Access (PRODA)
  • Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
  • Be linked to the Organisational Register (in HPOS) with one eligible provider linked to the practice.
    • Note – if your practice is already registered and all participating providers are linked in the Organisation Register, you do not need to complete a second registration process.
• Remember that practices already registered do not have the option of adding MyMedicare to the PRODA Organisation Register until 1 October. Please do so on or shortly after that date, so that patients can register with your practice.

An accreditation exemption is available until 30 June 2025 for non-accredited practices (including sole providers) who deliver general practice services through mobile and outreach models:

• in rural settings
• in residential aged care
• in disability residential settings
• to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients
• to people experiencing homelessness.

Resources to help your practice register

• Refer to the MyMedicare registration checklist to ensure you have all the required information available.
• Instructions are available through videos and eLearning guides on Service Australia’s website.
• The PRODA and MyMedicare registration – guide on how to register created by Darling Downs and Western Moreton Primary Health Network might also be useful.
• Practice managers and providers are encouraged to contact Services Australia directly on 13 21 50 for enquiries about completing their practice registration.

For patients

Patient registration FAQs now available here.

Further patient registration details will be available when announced by the Australian Government. Visit health.gov.au for more information.