Assignment of Medicare benefits changes from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, updated requirements will apply to the assignment of Medicare benefits for bulk-billed services.
Assignment of benefit is the process by which a patient agrees to have their Medicare benefit paid directly to the provider as full payment for a service, resulting in no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
A 12-month transition period will allow patients to provide verbal assignment of benefit while practices update workflows, train staff and confirm software arrangements. This means practices do not need to implement all changes immediately from 1 July 2026.
General practices should review their billing and administrative processes to ensure patients receive clear information about the bulk-billed service and can agree to assign their Medicare benefit before a claim is submitted.
Key points for practices
Verbal assignment transition period: Practices can use the 12-month transition period to implement assignment processes, update documentation and train staff. During this time, practices should also review and strengthen how verbal assignment is recorded.
Enduring assignment may reduce repeated consent steps: Enduring assignment allows a patient to provide consent in advance to assign their Medicare benefits for eligible future bulk-billed services at the practice.
Patient agreement is required: Patients must be given sufficient information to understand what they are agreeing to when assigning their Medicare benefit for a bulk-billed service.
Assignment can occur before or after the service: Practices should ensure the service description and assignment request remain accurate if the service provided differs from what was originally booked.
Electronic and digital processes are supported: The changes are designed to modernise assignment of benefits and support safer, more transparent Medicare claiming.
Records must be retained: Practices must keep appropriate assignment records in line with Medicare requirements and standard record-keeping processes for a minimum of two years.
If a patient does not agree to assign their Medicare benefit, the service cannot be claimed as bulk billed. In these circumstances, practices will need to discuss alternative billing arrangements with the patient before submitting a claim.
Which patients are eligible for an enduring assignment of benefits?
From 1 July 2026, patients registered with MyMedicare, residents of aged care homes, and patients of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) or Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) can make an enduring assignment of benefit for ongoing bulk-billed GP services, either directly or through a person acting on their behalf.
Patients registered with MyMedicare can make one enduring agreement to receive services from all GPs at their registered MyMedicare practice, where offered.
Patients of an ACCHO or AMS can make an enduring agreement with the organisation and can have agreements with multiple ACCHOs or AMSs.
Patients living in a residential aged care home can make multiple enduring agreements with different practitioners.
How can practices prepare?
Practices can prepare by:
ensuring reception, clinical and billing teams understand verbal, pre-service, post-service and enduring assignment requirements
confirming their practice management software supports the required assignment workflow
reviewing processes for telehealth, pathology and situations where the service provided differs from the original booking
ensuring staff know where to access the Department's FAQs and seek support when required.
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published a range of frequently asked questions to help medical practitioners, practice staff, hospitals and software vendors understand and meet their obligations when claiming Medicare bulk-billed services.
The RACGP will host a webinar, New assignment of benefit (AoB) processes commence for Medicare bulk billed services, on 14 July 2026 from 7–8 pm AEST.
Services Australia has also published templates for episodic and enduring Assignment of Benefits.
For more information, view the Department's Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Bulk Billing – Frequently Asked Questions.
For support, please contact your MPHN Primary Care Engagement Officer.