My Health Record
My Health Record is a secure online summary of an individual’s health information and is available to all Australians who hold a Medicare or DVA card. Health care providers, authorised by their health care organisation, can access My Health Record to view and add to their patients’ health information.
My Health Record does not replace existing health records. Rather, it supplements these with a high-value, shared source of patient information that can improve care planning and decision making.
My Health Record – Updated Legislation
The legislative framework supporting My Health Record has been updated to ensure the system remains contemporary, clear and aligned with modern digital health practices.
The My Health Records Rules 2026 have been introduced to modernise and clarify existing requirements, including those relating to security and access controls.
The major changes relate to record keeping and training. The My Health Record security and access policy (outlining access to My Health Record, training provided to staff and each iteration of the policy) must now be kept for 5 years. Evidence of how the organisation identifies who can access My Health Record and how data breaches will be managed and security measures must be kept for 2 years.
These changes commenced on 1 April 2026 and will be enforced from 1 October 2026.
What this means for healthcare providers
Existing participants
(Registered for My Health Record prior to 1 April 2026)
You should aim to comply with the 2026 Rules before 1 October 2026, during which:You may continue to apply the relevant sections of the My Health Records Rule 2016, including requirements for record‑keeping and security and access policies.
New participants
(Registered for My Health Record on or after 1 April 2026)
You are required to comply with the 2026 Rules upon registration.
The 2016 Rule has been repealed and no longer applies to new participants.
What has not changed
Importantly, the updates:
Do not change the purpose of the My Health Record system
Do not reduce privacy or security protections
Do not alter how consumers or healthcare providers interact with the system
Strong safeguards remain in place, and consumer controls and functionality continue unchanged.
Further information and support
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published FAQs addressing the new Regulations and Rules. Healthcare providers are encouraged to review the updated requirements and ensure they comply.
My Health Record – benefits
Better Access
Pathology and diagnostic imaging providers will be the first healthcare providers required to share test results to My Health Record. These changes will ensure patients and their healthcare providers have better and faster access to key health information when and where it is needed. While the legislation has not yet come into force, it is already driving information sharing, for example, as at September 2025, around 4 million pathology and 400,000 diagnostic imaging reports are uploaded weekly to My Health Record, with more than 1.4 million weekly views by patients.
Faster Access
Until recently, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports in My Health Record were not available for patients to view until 7 days after they were uploaded. Since October 2025, most pathology reports that are uploaded to My Health Record are now available for patients to view as soon as they are uploaded.
There will be some exceptions for certain test categories (including anatomical pathology, cytopathology and genetic tests). For these tests, patients will be able to see their reports 5 days after they are uploaded to My Health Record.
A list of test categories that will be immediately available to patients is available on the Australian Digital Health Agency website. This list will be updated as more tests are released to patients at the time of uploading.
Visit www.myhealthrecord.gov.au to learn more.
Watch this webinar on the key things health professionals need to know about My Health Record.
Information in My Health Record
Key benefits of using My Health Record
Fact sheets for Health Professionals
My Health Record app - 1800Medicare app
My Health Record System security
Privacy controls
Registration for My Health Record
Set up My Health Record in your clinical software
Viewing and uploading information
Training for Providers
Queensland Health Provider Portal
In addition to the national My Health Record system, Queensland’s general practitioners have secure online access to their patients' Queensland Health records through the Health Provider Portal (known as the Viewer). This read-only, online access will allow GPs to view public hospital information including appointment records, radiology and laboratory results, treatment and discharge summaries, and demographic and medication details.
This access will bridge the information gap between Queensland’s GPs and public hospitals and help ensure patients receive consistent, timely and better coordinated care. All GPs need to register to access the Health Provider Portal here.