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MY MEDICARE
WHAT IS MYMEDICARE?
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner (GP) and primary care teams. Registration in MyMedicare is voluntary for patients, practices and providers.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
MyMedicare is voluntary for practices, providers and patients. The system is based on a dual consent process where both the practice and the patient need to consent. Patient registration can be completed in one of the following ways:
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Patients can commence the registration process in their Medicare online services (Medicare Online Account or the Express Plus Medicare mobile application) and the practice staff can then accept or decline the registration in MyMedicare system.
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Practice staff can commence the patient registration process in MyMedicare and patients can then complete the registration and provide consent in their Medicare online services.
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Patients can fill out a registration form at the practice and practice staff will then complete the registration in the MyMedicare system with the patient’s consent captured on the form.
WHY SHOULD I REGISTER?
Registration in MyMedicare will provide a formal signal to your practice and your GP that you see them as your regular care team and will help them provide better coordinated and continuous healthcare.
Your MyMedicare practice and preferred GP will appear on your My Health Record, unless you choose not to display this, so other health professionals you may see – for example at public hospitals – will know who to talk to about your regular care.
Registration in MyMedicare will initially provide the most benefit to people who need access to longer telehealth consultations with their GP, for example older Australians, people who seek mental health care from their GP and people with chronic and complex health conditions. From November 2023, the triple bulk billing incentive will also apply to the longer telehealth items for registered patients who have a Commonwealth Concession Card or are under 16 years of age.
Residents of Residential Aged Care Homes will benefit from registering with their GP under MyMedicare, with new incentives being introduced in 2024 to support more regular proactive visits and care planning from GPs and practices.
IS THERE A COST?
Registration in MyMedicare is voluntary and open to Australians who have a Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veteran Card. There is no charge to register.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?
Patient eligibility requirements are designed to ensure patients have an existing relationship with a practice and GP before registering in MyMedicare. This relationship is important in delivering high-value ongoing care to patients. These requirements will also reduce the risk of other practices attempting to register patients that don’t attend their practice.
Most patients will need to have 2 face-to-face visits with the same practice in the previous 24 months to be eligible to register. This is an appropriate threshold for most patients to show they attend a regular practice to access their care.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MYMEDICARE AND MY HEALTH RECORD?
MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration system that will enable patients to register with their regular general practice, preferred GP and primary care team to deliver greater continuity of care.
My Health Record is Australia’s secure national electronic health record system. My Health Record is a secure online summary of a patient’s clinical health information. It provides patients and their healthcare providers with access to vital health information at the point of care, including in an emergency. This can include shared health summary, current medicines and prescriptions, immunisation history, hospital discharge information and Medicare, DVA and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) claims history.
Unlike the My Health Record, MyMedicare will not hold clinical health information about the patient. Its purpose is to link the patient with their regular practice and support continuous care at that practice. The details of a patient’s registered practice and preferred GP will be visible in the patient’s My Health Record, unless they choose not to display this, so other treating clinicians can see who the patient’s regular practice and preferred GP are.
More information on My Health Record is available at www.healthdirect.gov.au/my-healthrecord.
WHERE DO I GO FOR SUPPORT TO REGISTER OR IF I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES COMPLETING MY REGISTRATION?
From 1 October 2023 patients will find information on ‘how to register’ for MyMedicare on Services Australia’s website, or by phoning the Medicare public line on 132 011.
WHY IS MYMEDICARE BEING IMPLEMENTED?
MyMedicare responds to the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce recommendation for the Government to introduce a system of voluntary patient registration for general practice, delivering stronger relationships between patients and their care teams and supporting blended payments for person-centred care.