Assignment of benefit changes from 1 July 2026
Changes to how practices capture and record patient consent for bulk billed services will take effect from 1 July 2026.
These updates relate to the assignment of benefit (AoB) process — and aim to modernise consent, support digital workflows, and provide clearer documentation requirements.
On this page:
What is assignment of benefit?
When a service is bulk billed, the patient agrees to assign their Medicare benefit to the provider as full payment.
The provider then claims this benefit directly from Medicare, and the patient does not pay an out‑of‑pocket fee.
What’s changing from 1 July 2026
The changes focus on how consent is captured, documented and retained.
Key updates:
- More flexible consent options
Consent can be obtained before or after a service, including through digital workflows. - No mandatory form
There is no prescribed template — any format (paper or electronic) can be used, provided it includes the required information (‘data set’). You can continue to use existing forms, which will be updated to be compliant. - Updated signature approach
Patients (or their representative) must provide consent, which can be captured electronically or on paper.
Practitioner signatures are no longer required. - Introduction of new consent models
- Pre‑service assignment (e.g. at booking or check‑in)
- Enduring assignment for eligible patients (e.g. MyMedicare, aged care)
- 12‑month transition arrangements
A transition period will apply, including continued support for verbal assignment while systems adapt. - Record keeping requirements
Practices are responsible for retaining AoB agreements for 2 years.
Telehealth transition
Verbal consent remains available for 12 months from 1 July 2026, including for telehealth — however, practices must still retain a compliant AoB record and should transition to documented consent processes.
Enduring assignment of benefit
From 1 July 2026, eligible patients can make an enduring agreement that covers future bulk billed GP services, rather than completing a new assignment each time.
| MyMedicare registered patients | Residential aged care home residents | ACCHO / AMS patients |
|---|---|---|
| One agreement can cover GP services provided by GPs at the patient’s registered MyMedicare practice (if offered). | Patients can have multiple enduring agreements with different practitioners. | Patients can make an agreement with an ACCHO or AMS service. |
| Applies to future bulk billed GP services covered by the agreement. | The agreement can be made by the patient or a person acting on their behalf. | Patients can have multiple agreements across different ACCHOs or AMSs. |
| Practices must notify the assignor after a claim is made. | Covers care delivered in the aged care home and in GPs other practice settings. | Agreements may be entered with an authorised agent of the provider. |
| Agreement ends if the patient is no longer registered with the practice. | Agreement ends if the patient no longer resides in aged care. | Agreement ends if the patient is no longer receiving care from that service. |
Requirements across all enduring agreements
- Must relate to ongoing GP services
- Require patient (or assignor) consent and signature
- Must include the mandatory data set (as per legislation)
- Can be ended at any time by either the patient or the practice
- Remain valid until circumstances change (e.g. patient leaves practice or setting)
- Replace the need to capture consent at each visit for services covered by the agreement
