MyMedicare

Brisbane North PHN have been been collaborating closely with community and general practices in our region to enhance their understanding of and preparedness for the MyMedicare introduction. Our commitment remains steadfast in providing support to your practice during its transition to MyMedicare.

Download the MyMedicare timeline.

Step 1: Learn about MyMedicare

Access resources, and webinars on this page to learn about MyMedicare, why it is important, eligibility, and how to register. 

Why should General Practices or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) register with MyMedicare?

A well-supported general practice team can deliver sustainable, equitable, high-value health care that benefits patients and providers (RACGP Vision for General Practice and a Sustainable Healthcare System, 2019). 

MyMedicare: 

• strengthens the role of general practice in the Australian health system 
• improves access to care via telehealth, supports GP services to aged care and supports patients who are frequent hospital users 
• encourages continuity of care for patients. 

Practices will have better information about which patients see them as their usual practice, making it easier to tailor services to fit their needs. If you don't register your practice, your patients may register with another practice. 

Why should a GP register at a MyMedicare Practice? 

MyMedicare: 

• is a mechanism to enhance services to patients whose needs may not be met though a solely fee-for-service system, including older people, First Nations people, those who are homeless or have chronic and complex conditions 
• formalises the long-term doctor-patient relationship 
• supports a shift from episodic care to longitudinal, preventive, multidisciplinary-based models of care
• recognises GPs as best placed to provide care that is patient and community centred. 

Step 2: MyMedicare eligibility 

To be eligible for MyMedicare, general practices must: 

• provide Medicare-funded services 
• be registered in the following Services Australia systems: 
• Provider Digital Access (PRODA) 
• Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) 
• the Organisation Register 
• have at least one eligible GP linked to the practice in the Organisation Register. Eligible GPs can be a vocationally registered GP, non-vocationally registered GP or a GP registrar. 
• be accredited against the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme – non-accredited practices will have 12 months to gain accreditation through a registered accreditation agency from the date they register in MyMedicare as a practice.

Step 3: HPOS Organisation Register 

Link your Organisation in PRODA to the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). 

Once linked, you can access the HPOS Organisation Register to register your practice and link eligible providers. 

Step 4: Patient registration 

There are three ways patients can register with your practice in MyMedicare: 

1. Patients can register via their Medicare Online Account or the Express Plus Medicare mobile application. Practice staff will then accept the registration in the MyMedicare system. 
2. Your practice may start the registration in MyMedicare. This will trigger a registration in your patients’ Medicare Online Account or Express Plus Medicare mobile application, which they can then complete. 
3. You may provide patients with the patient registration form to fill out at your practice. By signing the form, patients are giving consent to participate in MyMedicare with your practice. Practice staff will then complete the registration in the MyMedicare system. 

A registration in MyMedicare is only successful when both the patient and practice have provided consent to formalise their relationship through one of the processes noted above. The practice has one month to accept a patient’s request to register. 

Why should patients register with a MyMedicare practice? 

My Medicare: 

• supports practices to provide preventive care and early treatment allowing patients to stay active and healthier in the community for longer 
• promotes having an established relationship with a nominated GP/practice for seamless, integrated and continuous care, and where patient needs are understood and prioritised 
• reduces fragmentation of care caused by multiple service providers 
• funds longer telehealth appointments that will benefit people with disabilities or mobility issues that find it difficult to get to face-to-face appointments 
• supports the delivery of quality and continuous care to residents in aged care facilities. 

Patients deserve to have a GP/practice that knows their history. 

Step 5: Data cleansing and identifying patients eligible for registration for MyMedicare

It is important to data cleanse and archive your practice’s inactive patients. How to guides to archive your inactive patients using Best Practice and Medical Director. 
 
Please note: RACGP standards for an active patient is three visits within two years. For MyMedicare registration, most patients will need to have two face-to-face visits recorded with the same practice in the previous 24 months to be eligible to register with that practice. 

Follow the ‘how to’ guide  to use Primary Sense to run reports to identify “at risk” patients who would benefit from MyMedicare enrolment and to identify patients at your practice who are eligible for MyMedicare.

Where can I get help with MyMedicare registration? 

PHNs can assist practices with the following elements of MyMedicare: 

• our Digital Health Engagement Officer can provide you with support through the registration process, and can book a practice visit to assist 
• practice accreditation 
• registration with PRODA, HPOS, and the Organisation Register 
• practice preparation including validating active patient lists and analysis of patient demand 
• change management 
• quality improvement activities linked to continuing professional development (CPD) requirements 
• support for change champions.

Need assistance?

Please contact our Practice Support team to request assistance. 

For assistance with PRODA/HPOS MyMedicare registration, call 132 150 health provider line, option 6. 

The Australian Association of Practice Managers (AAPM) have partnered with the Department of Health and Aged Care and can also assist with the implementation of MyMedicare.  

Practices can contact AAPM National Office on 1800 196 000 or via email nationaloffice@aapm.org.au for support. 

Medicare enquiries general public line 132 011 or visit health.gov.au/mymedicare.