My Health Record
Following the Australian Government’s commitment to continue to expand the My Health Record system, every Australian now has the opportunity to have a My Health Record unless they choose not to have one.
On this page:
What is My Health Record?
Through the My Health Record system, you will access timely information about your patients such as shared health summaries, medical conditions, immunisation history, discharge summaries, prescription and dispense records, pathology reports and diagnostic imaging reports.
The Australian Digital Health Agency is working closely with a range of stakeholders to implement a range of programs to support these changes and to measure benefits of the My Health Record system.
The key benefits of the My Health Record system are:
- Avoiding adverse drug events.
- Enhanced patient self-management.
- Improvements in patient outcomes.
- Reduce time gathering information.
- Avoided duplication of services.
- The My Health Record website has information for healthcare professionals on how to register and set-up your practice to the system, how to view and upload information, how to support consumers with questions about privacy and security and a range of tools and training modules.
My health Record Rules 2026 changes for all healthcare providers
Healthcare provider organisations participating in My Health Record must operate in accordance with relevant legislation, including establishing and maintaining a security and access policy.
The My Health Records Rule 2016 (the 2016 Rule) has been replaced with the My Health Records Rules 2026 (the 2026 Rules), effective 1 April 2026. Under the 2026 Rules, revised security and access policy requirements are outlined in Rules 21 and 43. These Rules replace Rules 42 and 44 of the 2016 Rule. While the core requirements remain largely consistent, several key changes have been introduced. This includes changes to requirements concerning user account management, training and security measures, and a new requirement to include processes for responding to My Health Record data breaches. In addition to the policy itself, organisations must keep records showing how the policy has been applied. Retention periods for these records are outlined in Rule 45 of the 2026 Rules.
Organisations registered with the My Health Record system before 1 April 2026, must update their security and access policy by 1 October 2026, in line with the 2026 Rules. Organisations registering for My Health Record from 1 April 2026, must develop a security and access policy in accordance with the 2026 Rules.
It is recommended that all organisations review the 2026 Rules to ensure their security and access policy complies with applicable requirements. Information to assist organisations in updating their policy in accordance with the new requirements can be found on the Australian Digital Health Agency’s website, My Health Record participation obligations.
To assist practices there is an updated My Health Record Organisation Registration Checklist. My Health Record Security and Access Policy template is under review currently and will be shared when available
Access changes
Improving access to health information in My Health Record is at the heart of recent reforms to Australia’s digital health landscape. Historically, not all key health information was required to be uploaded, leaving gaps in a consumer’s record that potentially hampered care.
The new ‘Sharing by Default’ legislation aims to modernise healthcare, delivering more timely and comprehensive information for providers and consumers alike. These changes respond to recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report and were announced in May 2023. The Australian Parliament then passed the Health Legislation Amendment (Modernising My Health Record – Sharing by Default) Bill 2024, setting out new requirements for providers.
Policy changes will complement this, to provide consumers with faster access to their pathology and diagnostic imaging reports.
There are two key components that will be introduced:
Faster access
- Pathology: From mid-October 2025, most pathology results (see new test categories below) will be available for consumers to view in My Health Record or my health app immediately after they are uploaded. Previously, a 7-day delay was in place (with exceptions for specific tests such as COVID-19, respiratory infection tests, diabetes monitoring, and INR blood clot monitoring). For certain categories (including anatomical pathology, cytopathology, and genetic tests) results will be available to consumers after a 5-day delay, regardless of test outcome. New test categories can be found here.
- Diagnostic imaging: From February 2026, consumers can immediately view x-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs) after upload. Other diagnostic imaging reports will be available after a 5-day delay, compared to the previous 7-day wait.
Better access
Healthcare providers, starting with those delivering pathology and diagnostic imaging services, will be required to upload reports to My Health Record by default. In future, other types of reports or documents may be included in the upload requirements.
The requirement to upload by default will not commence until legislative rules have been made setting out the obligations to do so. Exceptions apply where consumers or their representatives request that reports not be uploaded, where a reasonable concern for consumer, health, safety or wellbeing exists, or technical/system issues prevent upload. Evidence of exceptions must be retained for 2 years.
These changes are expected to transition into effect throughout 2026. For more information visit the Australian Digital Health Agency website.
Do the new share by default requirements apply to me or my organisation?
Download PDF [3.02 mb]
My Health Record resources
Better Faster Access resources
Residential Aged Care Homes resources
My Health Record Fact Sheet
View resourceMy Health Record Readiness Toolkit
View resourceeNRMC Integration
View resourceConformant software for My Health Record
View resourceTestimonial from a RACH manager who successfully implemented My Health Record
View resourceResidential Care Transfer Summary (RCTS) Fact Sheet
View resource