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Medicare consent guides, compliance updates & product news
Practical resources for Australian GPs and practice managers navigating the 1 July 2026 bulk-billing consent changes.
Privacy Act and Health Data Residency in Australia
Why storing Medicare consent records on Australian servers is critical for compliance with Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
The Medicare Consent Retention Rule: Keeping Records for 2 Years
Understanding your legal obligations under Regulation 65C(4) for storing and auditing bulk-billing consent forms.
Bulk Billing Consent for NDIS and Home Visits
Navigating Medicare bulk billing consent rules during home consults, retirement villages, and NDIS group homes.
Streamlining Ward Rounds with GP Ward Round Software
How modern GP ward round software simplifies bulk billing consent collection, MBS item selection, and team coordination.
Resident Lacks Capacity: Who Signs Medicare Consent?
The legal hierarchy and practical workflow for capturing bulk-billing consent when an aged care resident lacks cognitive capacity.
What is Medicare Assignment of Benefit? A Guide for GPs
Understanding the legal concept of assigning your Medicare benefit to a practitioner and why consent is mandatory.
Electronic Signatures under ETA 1999 in Australian Healthcare
How the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 applies to Medicare assignment of benefit consent forms and e-signatures.
GP Visits in Residential Aged Care (RACF): The Consent Guide
Step-by-step guidance on capturing Medicare bulk-billing consent for rounds and visits to residential aged care facilities.
Complete Guide to GP Bulk Billing Consent Form Requirements
A breakdown of the mandatory data fields required under Regulation 65C(4) for a valid Medicare bulk-billing consent record.
Medicare Assignment of Benefit Consent Changes for July 2026
What GPs and medical practices need to know about the transition from verbal to written bulk-billing consent starting 1 July 2026.
Common questions
About Medicare AoB consent
What are the new Medicare consent rules?
From 1 July 2026, every bulk-billed service requires a signed Assignment of Benefit (AoB) consent — verbal consent is no longer sufficient. The consent must capture the reg 65C(4) data set and be retained for two years.
Who can sign Medicare consent for a resident?
The patient themselves, or an eligible representative if the patient lacks capacity. Facility staff, proprietors, and practice staff are explicitly excluded from signing as the assignor.
How long must consent records be kept?
Medicare AoB consent records must be retained for a minimum of two years from the date of service, as required under the Health Insurance Regulations 2018.