Telehealth and video consultations

Telehealth removes some of the barriers to accessing medical services for Australians who have difficulty getting to a healthcare facility or live in rural and remote areas. Telehealth has also played a vital role in providing healthcare to patients during a disaster or pandemic. 

Often, Australians living in rural and remote areas need to travel long distances to see their healthcare provider. Telehealth improves their health care by improving access to timely services. 

Telehealth consultations are not only convenient, they also ensure the safety of others by reducing the spread of contagious illnesses.  

To be eligible for GP telehealth services, patients must have had a face-to-face consultation with their GP (or another GP in the same practice) in the 12 months before the telehealth service. There are some limited exceptions. 

Patients in areas declared a natural disaster can access telehealth services from any to medical practitioners in general practice. Eligible regions are State or Territory Local Government Areas identified as a natural disaster at the time of the service. 

Temporary exemptions from the established clinical relationship requirement for general practice video and phone services apply to patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and for patients who suspect they have COVID-19 and meet the PBS criteria for COVID-19 anti-viral therapy and require a referral for a PCR test to verify diagnosis. 

Billing telehealth services 

MBS Video and Phone items are available to medical practitioners in general practice, specialists, consultant physicians, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers and dental practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. 
 
Health professionals bulk billing telehealth services MUST obtain an ‘assignment of benefit’ from a patient. An assignment of benefit is a signature requirement when a patient assigns their Medicare benefit to the servicing provider as full payment of the service (bulk billing). 

Changes to the assignment of benefit process

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has been working to create digital solutions to improve the Medicare payment processes. This will increase transparency for patients and better ensure the integrity of Medicare. The commencement of new assignment of benefit processes for all Medicare bulk-billed services is 1 July 2026.

The FAQ for assignment of Medicare benefits document outlines how the assignment of benefit applies to bulk-billed services provided in primary care and hospital settings for private patients and clarifies the legislative requirements commencing on 1 July 2026. The document is designed to support medical practitioners, administrative staff in medical practices and hospitals and software vendors to understand and meet their obligations when claiming bulk billing under Medicare.

Browse up-coming webinars that explore and support practices to prepare for the changes. Practices can reach out to: AssignmentofBenefit@health.gov.au