Introducing MyMedicare
MyMedicare is a voluntary, op-in patient registration system that aims to formalise the relationship between patients, their general practice and regular practitioner, and their primary care teams. This is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Medicare for all Australians.
Seeing a regular GP and confirming your relationship with them and your general practice through MyMedicare can lead to better health outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered below, please contact our friendly reception team on 02 4981 8800 or via our contact page.
What is the purpose of MyMedicare?
MyMedicare is a government led initiative that aims to benefit patients who maintain a regular relationship with their GP or general practice.
Evidence shows that seeing the same GP and health care team long term improves health outcomes, so all Australians are encouraged to register with MyMedicare to formally reinforce this relationship.
New incentives will be implemented throughout 2024 and beyond to support more regular, proactive visits and care planning for our patients.
How do I register for MyMedicare?
MyMedicare is based on a dual consent process. This means that both the patient and the practice/GP need to consent in order for a registration to be complete.
You can start the registration process via your Medicare Online Account or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Follow the prompts to complete your form, and the website/app will send it to our practice staff. We will then complete your registration from our end.
You may also ask our practice staff to initiate the registration for you. This will trigger a registration request in your Medicare Online Account or the Express Plus Medicare mobile app, which you can then complete.
You may also complete a paper form by speaking to our practice staff. By signing the form, you are giving your consent to participate in MyMedicare with our practice and your regular GP. Once the form is signed, we will complete your registration from our end.
Who can register? Is there a cost?
Registration with MyMedicare is open to all Australians who have a Medicare or DVA Veteran card. There is no cost to register.
I’m happy with my current GP, should I still register?
Yes. Registration in MyMedicare will formalise and strengthen your relationship with your general practice and your preferred GP to improve health outcomes and long term care.
Once registered, you will eligible for all of the current MyMedicare benefits, as well as all future benefits that will roll out over the next few years.
I’m a DVA Veteran Card holder, is MyMedicare for me?
Yes! MyMedicare is open to all Australians, including those who receive DVA funded health services using a DVA Gold or White card.
If you hold a DVA card, you can register using your DVA card or your Medicare card (if you have one). You can only have one registration active, and it will apply to all relevant Medicare and DVA funded services regardless of which card you used to register.
If you would like to register for MyMedicare using your DVA card, you will need to speak to our practice staff to sign a paper form, as online registration is currently limited to Medicare cards.
What if I see multiple doctors at Health in Abundance?
You can change your preferred provider within the practice at any time using your Medicare Online Account or the Medicare Express Plus mobile app. You can also speak to our practice staff, and we will update your preferred provider for you.
If you generally see whoever we have available, you can still register for MyMedicare with the practice. We will [Kristy to clarify]
What are the eligibility requirements?
Patient eligibility requirements are designed to ensure patients have an existing relationship with a practice and GP before registering with MyMedicare. This relationship is important in delivering high-value ongoing care to all patients. The requirements also reduce the risk of other practices attempting to register patients that don’t attend their practice, or only attended for a one-off appointment.
Most patients only need to have 2 face to face visits with the same practice in the previous 24 months (2 years) to be eligible to register. These 2 visits do not have to be with the same GP, but you will be asked who you would like to register with when signing up.
There are certain extenuating circumstances where a patient may be exempt from this requirement. If you are going through extreme circumstances, please talk to our practice staff or your GP to see whether this applies to you.
Is registration compulsory?
No, registration with MyMedicare is voluntary.
Patients will still be able to access MBS-funded and DVA equivalent primary care services if they are not registered, but they will not be eligible for the current benefits provided by the MyMedicare program.
What are the current benefits of MyMedicare?
MyMedicare aims to benefit both patients and their regular general practice by expanding access to ongoing care via additional funding and improved communication between health providers. As MyMedicare grows, more benefits will be rolled out.
MyMedicare patients currently have access to:
• A formalised ongoing relationship with your general practice and preferred GP, which has been shown to improve health outcomes.
• Longer MBS/DVA-funded telephone consultations with your registered practice and GP.
• Longer bulk billed telehealth consultations for pension card holders and children aged 15 and under, with the new triple bulk billing incentive.
• Connections to more appropriate care in general practice for people with chronic conditions who visit hospital frequently.
• Improved continuity of care for patients under a GP Management Plan and EPC (better known as a careplan) by limiting this cycle of care to your registered practice and GP.
• Improved quality and continuity of care for patients that are eligible for annual 75+ Health Assessments or ATSI Health Assessments by limiting this cycle of care to your registered practice and GP.
We will update this page as new initiatives and benefits are rolled out under MyMedicare.
Will I be able to change practices once registered?
Yes, once you have registered with MyMedicare you will be able to change your preferred practice at any times as long as the eligibility requirements are satisfied. All you need to do is complete a new registration with your new practice via any of the above methods.
A patient may only have one active MyMedicare registration at a time. When a new registration is submitted, the previous one will be automatically withdrawn. You don’t need to inform your old practice of the change, as the system will send out a notification.
What is the difference between MyMedicare and My Health Record?
MyMedicare is a new voluntary registration system that will enable patients allocate and register with their regular general practice and GP to deliver greater quality and continuity of care.
My Health Record is Australia’s secure national electronic health record system. It contains an online summary of your clinical health information to provide you and your healthcare providers with access to vital health information at the point of care, including in an emergency. This can include a shared health summary, current medications and prescriptions, immunisation history, hospital discharge information, and your Medicare, DVA, and Pharmaceutical Beneifts Scheme (PBS and RPBS) claims history.
Unlike the My Health Record, MyMedicare does not hold any of your clinical health information. Its purpose is to link you up with your regular practice/GP to support your continuous care. The details of your MyMedicare registered practice/GP will be visible in your My Health Record so that other treating clinicians can see who your GP is.
For more information about the My Health Record, CLICK HERE.
How is my privacy protected with MyMedicare?
My Medicare is a registration system and won’t hold any of your clinical health information. This information, including visit notes, specialist correspondence, investigations and results, and so on, will continue to be kept strictly within our practice’s database. Your My Health Record, if linked to your file here, will also receive limited information; see above for what information it collects.
The information MyMedicare collects and stores is currently limited to:
• Full name
• Date of birth
• Medicare of DVA file number
• Name of your preferred GP
• Your GP’s provider number
• Practice name
• Practice address
• Details of other health providers involved in your care team
Services Australia is responsible for the overall management and storage of your MyMedicare data. They are committed to keeping your data safe and secure.
To read the full MyMedicare Privacy Notice, CLICK HERE.
Want to learn more about MyMedicare?