Important changes to Assignment of Medicare Benefits (AoB) from 1 July 2026
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has responded to concerns raised by healthcare providers regarding the proposed changes to Assignment of Benefits (AoB) commencing on 1 July 2026.
From this date, the use of previous forms and templates (e.g. DB4e or DB020) will no longer be compliant.
An assignment of benefit agreement will need to contain the required information as per subsection 65C(4) of the Health Insurance Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits and Other Measures) Regulations 2025.
Transition period
While the responsibility for AoB shifting from the patient to the general practice, healthcare providers now have a transition period of 12 months in which verbal consent for AoB will be allowed.
The Department will also use the 12-month transition period to explore other regulatory and legislative options to further reduce the administrative burden on both general practices and patients while ensuring the integrity of Medicare is maintained.
Once the transition period is over, the AoB agreement must be presented in paper or electronic format (there will be no mandatory template) and patient consent can be obtained before or after a service is provided but must be prior to a Medicare claim being submitted. Providers and their software vendors should continue preparing for the changes, including digital solutions.
Introduction of ‘enduring’ Assignment of Benefits
A key element of reducing administrative burden for bulk billing GP services is through introducing an ‘enduring’ assignment of benefit option for eligible patients. This means that from 1 July 2026, patients registered with MyMedicare, residents of aged care homes, and patients of Aboriginal Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) will be able to make an enduring assignment of benefit for ongoing bulk billed GP services, either directly or through a person acting on their behalf. Patients attending ACCHOs or AMSs will be able to have enduring assignment at multiple sites.
Brisbane South PHN will continue to monitor the changes to AoB and will provide details on our website and via email notifications from [email protected].
More information
For more information on the process of improving the assignment of benefit, please refer to: Improving the assignment of benefit process - Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The Department advises that more information regarding enduring assignment of benefit agreements will be made available once regulations has considered by Executive Council in late June. For enquiries or further details regarding the Assignment of Benefit (AoB) project, please email [email protected].