Consultation on Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Simplified Billing Services

Closes 28 Mar 2025

Opened 10 Feb 2025

Overview

The Department of Health and Aged Care is modernising and simplifying the assignment of benefit process by creating solutions that will streamline Medicare billing for bulk billed and simplified billing services. The Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024, which was passed by Parliament on 2 July 2024, with Royal Assent provided on 9 July 2024, provides the basis for this work. This amends the Health Insurance Act 1973 and changes will commence on 9 January 2026, unless proclaimed earlier.

The consultation paper sets out the proposed regulations and system changes that will support the new assignment of Medicare benefit requirements for simplified billing services.

Why your views matter

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposed changes to regulations and digital systems for hospital and hospital-substitute services claimed through simplified billing.

Your feedback will inform consideration of the proposed changes and how to best implement them.

How to respond

Please submit your response via email to AssignmentofBenefit@health.gov.au.  Submissions are due by 28 March 2025.

Audiences

  • Non-government organisations
  • State government agencies
  • Commonwealth agencies
  • Local governments
  • Health professionals
  • Health workforce
  • Community groups
  • Aged care service providers

Interests

  • Health technology
  • Medicare
  • Legislation
  • Health insurance