Primary Care and Digital Health Support - August 2026

Following the success of our pilot workshops in Port Lincoln, Port Augusta, and the Adelaide Hills, Country SA PHN, in collaboration with CDM Plus, recently delivered a series of face-to-face Immunisation Updates for Nurse and Aboriginal Health Practitioner-Led Clinics over the past two weeks.

The workshops were held across Mount Gambier, Renmark, Wallaroo, and Nuriootpa, providing valuable opportunities for primary healthcare professionals to strengthen their immunisation knowledge and stay up to date with current best practices.

Our Primary Care Support Officer, Adrienne, attended the Nuriootpa workshop this week, where she had the opportunity to connect with many dedicated nurses and healthcare professionals from across the region.

The workshops were extremely well received, and we were especially pleased to see such strong participation from nurses across country South Australia. Thank you to everyone who attended, shared their experiences, and contributed to the success of these sessions. Together, we continue to support and strengthen our primary healthcare workforce. For further information or support, please contact the Country SA PHN Primary Care & Digital Support team at [email protected].

The Country SA PHN Primary Care and Digital Support team continues to strengthen relationships with general practices across the region through regular practice visits that provide valuable opportunities to connect, share information and better understand local needs.

Recently, Primary Care and Digital Support Officers Adrienne and Deepika, together with Care Finder Program Lead Helen Morley, visited Mount Barker South Medical Centre to discuss a range of key topics, including digital health support, primary care initiatives, the care finder program, and current Country SA PHN activities. Key areas of discussion included Assignment of Benefit changes, Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR), MyMedicare, HealthPathways SA, GoShare by Healthily, Practice Health Profiles available through the Primary Care Portal, and Lulu immunisation books.

Adrienne also recently travelled throughout the Riverland region, visiting seven general practices to hear directly from practice teams about their local priorities, current challenges and opportunities for further support. These visits helped strengthen partnerships, gain insight into local service delivery experiences, and identify practical ways Country SA PHN can continue supporting practices through primary care assistance, digital health guidance and quality improvement initiatives.

Country SA PHN values the opportunity to engage directly with practices and remains committed to supporting healthcare teams across regional South Australia through tailored advice, resources and ongoing collaboration. For any questions or to request a practice visit, please contact the Country SA PHN Primary Care & Digital Support team at [email protected].

Assignment of Medicare benefits changes from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, updated requirements apply for assigning Medicare benefits when a service is bulk billed. Assignment of benefit is the process where a patient agrees for their Medicare benefit to be paid directly to the provider as full payment for the service, meaning the patient has no out-of-pocket cost for that service.

There is a 12-month transition period where patients can provide a verbal assignment, providing practices time to update workflows, train staff and confirm software arrangements without needing to make every change immediately on 1 July 2026.

General practices should review their billing and administrative workflows to ensure patients are provided with clear information about the bulk billed service and are able to agree to assign their Medicare benefit before a claim is submitted.

Key points for practices

• Verbal assignment transition period. Practices can use the 12-month transition period to put in place necessary assignment processes, documentation and train staff. During this time, practices should also review and strengthen how verbal assignment is recorded.
• Enduring assignment may reduce repeated consent steps. Enduring assignment allows a patient to agree in advance to assign their Medicare benefits for eligible future bulk billed services with the practice.
• Patient agreement is required. Patients must be given enough information to understand what they are agreeing to when assigning their Medicare benefit for a bulk billed service.
• Assignment can occur before or after the service. Practices should ensure the service description and assignment request remain accurate if the service provided changes.
• Electronic and digital processes are supported. The changes are intended to modernise assignment of benefits and support safer, more transparent Medicare claiming.
• Records must be retained. Practices should keep appropriate records of assignment in line with Medicare requirements and their usual record keeping processes (2 years minimum).

If a patient does not agree to assign their Medicare benefit, the service cannot be claimed as bulk billed. Practices will need to discuss alternative billing arrangements with the patient before submitting a claim.

Which patients are eligible for an enduring assignment of benefits?

From 1 July 2026, patients registered with MyMedicare, residents of aged care homes, and patients of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) or Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) will be able to make an enduring assignment of benefit for ongoing GP bulk billed services, either directly or through a person acting on their behalf.

• A patient registered with MyMedicare will be able to make one enduring agreement to receive services from all general practitioners at their MyMedicare practice, if offered.
• A patient of an ACCHO or AMS will be able to make an enduring agreement with the ACCHO or AMS, and they will be able to have multiple agreements with multiple ACCHs or AMS.
• A patient living in a residential aged care home will be able to make multiple enduring agreements with different practitioners.

How can practices prepare for Assignment of Benefits changes?

Practices can prepare by:

• checking that reception, clinical and billing teams understand verbal, pre-service, post-service and enduring assignment requirements
• confirming their practice management software supports the required assignment workflow
• reviewing processes for telehealth, pathology and any circumstances where the service changes from what was originally booked
• ensuring staff know where to find the Department’s FAQs and seek support if they are unsure.

The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has published frequently asked questions to help medical practitioners, administrative staff in medical practices and hospitals, and software vendors understand and meet their obligations when claiming bulk billing under Medicare.

Services Australia has published templates for Episodic and Enduring Assignment of Benefits.

For more information, see the Department’s Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Bulk Billing – Frequently Asked Questions. For support please contact [email protected].

MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration model. It aims to formalise and strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner (GP) and primary care teams.

The table below shows health services associated with MyMedicare.

More information:

• Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Item information
• Checklist and steps to register for MyMedicare on the Organisation Register
• MyMedicare program tables of system error, warning and information messages
• Managing patient registrations

The GP Chronic Conditions Management Plan (GPCCMP) replaced separate GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements from 1 July 2025. It provides one streamlined plan for chronic condition care planning, referrals and reviews.

What practices need to know

• One plan replaces the previous GPMP/TCA process.
• The plan outlines the patient’s chronic conditions, goals, agreed actions, referrals if needed and review schedule.
• Practice nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and Aboriginal Health Workers can assist with preparation and reviews where requirements are met.
• A patient must have at least one medical condition that has been, or is likely to be, present for at least 6 months, or is terminal.

GPCCMP eligibility snapshot

Notes

• For a MyMedicare-registered patient, GPCCMP items must be accessed through the practice where the patient is registered. The patient’s usual medical practitioner, or someone at the same practice, should bill the GPCCMP item.
• A GPCCMP cannot be claimed for a patient in a residential aged care facility; consider alternate care planning services such as MBS items 232 or 731 where appropriate.
• CCM items cannot be billed with specified general attendance items for the same patient on the same day; check MBS Online for current item rules before claiming. 

Table 1: GP Chronic Condition Management Items commenced from 1 July 2025   

GPCCMP resources and help

• MBS Online – GP Chronic Condition Management Plans
• Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – MBS Chronic Disease Management Arrangements

Local support: For MyMedicare, GPCCMP, quality improvement and change management support, contact: [email protected]

From 1 November 2025, changes to Better Access MBS arrangements affect MHTP preparation, referrals and reviews. The following short version keeps the key messages together and moves supporting links into a single resources block.

Key messages

• A Medicare benefit is payable for MHTP preparation, referrals and MHTP reviews where the patient has seen a GP/PMP at their MyMedicare-enrolled practice, or their usual medical practitioner regardless of MyMedicare status.
• MHTP review items and ongoing mental health consultation items have been removed from the MBS; practices can use the most appropriate time-tiered professional attendance item.
• MHTP referrals dated before 1 November 2025 remain valid until the treatment services specified in the referral have been delivered, within the session limit for that course of treatment.
• These changes do not affect focused psychological strategies delivered by eligible GPs and PMPs with recognised training.
• Better Access treatment services are intended for patients needing at least a moderate level of mental health support. Practices should consider stepped care options and local PHN referral pathways where appropriate.

MHTP eligibility snapshot

Local pathway prompt: Include your PHN HealthPathways link, local stepped care referral options, Medicare Mental Health Centre information and any region-specific mental health service navigation supports.

Better Access resources

• MBS Online – Better Access changes from 1 November 2025
• Better Access Initiative – resource collection
• Better Access fact sheet – patients
• Better Access fact sheet – professionals
• Better Access telehealth FAQs
• Better Access FAQs
• Medicare Mental Health

Local support: For Better Access, MyMedicare, GPCCMP and quality improvement support, contact: [email protected]

Chronic Conditions Management referrals: what has changed

• GPCCMPs replaced the previous chronic disease management referral and team care arrangement requirements from 1 July 2025.
• There are no changes to individual allied health MBS items for treating chronic conditions, but referral requirements are simpler.
• The GP does not need to specify the number of allied health services on the referral.
• The allied health provider does not need to be named on the referral.
• Team Care Arrangements are no longer required.

Practical tips for allied health services

• Discuss the patient’s priorities and how they want to use their annual allied health services.
• If relevant, ask whether the patient wants to use private health cover for some services so Medicare-referred services can be used elsewhere.
• Use HPOS/MBS Online to check item eligibility and claiming history where appropriate.
• Coordinate with the referring practice and broader care team, including case conferencing or group allied health services where relevant.
• Use My Health Record, where available and appropriate, to support care coordination.

Allied health resources

• AN.15.4 – Allied health services for chronic condition management
• AN.15.6 – Referral requirements for allied health services
• MN.3.1 – Individual allied health services for treating chronic conditions
• Services Australia – Check MBS item numbers
• MyGov app help
• My Health Record for allied health

Australians and their healthcare providers are now empowered with greater access to health information, with Share by Default legislative requirements taking effect 1 July 2026.

While we have already seen a significant increase in the uploading of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record prior to the Share by Default legislation taking effect, these reports now must be shared with My Health Record, except in certain circumstances. This enhances Australians' access to key health information, streamlining timely availability and supporting continuity of care.

Under the requirements, pathology and imaging reports authored by (or on behalf of) a pathologist or radiologist must be uploaded to My Health Record by default, unless an exception applies or an extension of time has been granted. The requirement does not include images.

The changes support improved access to health information for consumers and healthcare providers helping to make information available when and where it is needed to support care.

What this means

• More pathology and diagnostic imaging reports are now available in My Health Record.
• Healthcare providers can continue to access reports through their existing clinical systems and workflows.
• My Health Record provides access to reports uploaded by other pathology and diagnostic imaging providers involved in a patient’s care, supporting continuity of care across healthcare settings.
• Patients may choose to access some pathology and diagnostic imaging reports through My Health Record, which supports a more interactive follow-up consultation. 
• At the time when pathology and diagnostic imaging services are requested, providers may wish to have a discussion with their patients regarding report availability and confirm follow-up arrangements. 
• Guidance resources are available for patients to support conversations about understanding and interpreting results.

Patient access

Processing times vary for different pathology tests and diagnostic imaging studies. Sometimes it can take days or weeks for a report to be finalised, depending on the nature of the test. This can affect when the report is available in My Health Record. 

Once a report is finalised, it will generally be uploaded to My Health Record within 24 hours of being shared with the requesting provider, unless an exception applies. 

What’s next for Share by Default

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, in partnership with the Agency, recently undertook consultation to shape the development of new Share by Default requirements focused on online prescribing services.

This includes consultation about the introduction of requirements for online prescribing services to share prescribed and dispensed medicines information to My Health Record by default. Medicines information shared to My Health Record would then be available to people and their healthcare providers, subject to existing privacy protections and individual controls.  

Feedback received through the consultation process will help inform future policy considerations. Further information is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

Learn more

For Healthcare providers:

• Better access to health information in My Health Record
• Guide for requesting providers
• Guide for providers that undertake pathology and diagnostic imaging services
• Applying for an extension of time to comply
• Resources for your patients: Consumer fact sheet

For Consumers:

• Better and faster access to your health information in My Health Record
• Your questions answered: Fact sheet for healthcare consumers
• 1800MEDICARE app provides access to your health information, wherever you are.

For more information, visit digitalhealth.gov.au or email [email protected]. Should you require any additional tailored resources, support or have any questions, please contact your Partnerships team at [email protected].

Education update

The Australia Digital Health Agency’s Education team produces a range of free online eLearning resources to support digital health learning for everyone.

To support the national 1800MEDICARE campaign, the team have released 5 new 1800MEDICARE app short courses.

The courses cover:

• Getting started with the 1800MEDICARE app
• Exploring the 1800MEDICARE app home screen
• Privacy and access settings in the 1800MEDICARE app
• Using electronic prescriptions with the 1800MEDICARE app
• Using Active Script list with the 1800MEDICARE app

The 1800MEDICARE app allows you to access key health information, seek trusted advice and connect with care, all from the palm of your hand.

To access these and other digital health eLearning modules for individuals, healthcare providers, students and educators, visit the Agency’s online learning portal. You can also find more information about the 1800MEDICARE app here.

Supporting healthcare providers with new Healthcare Identifiers education resources

Partners can now access the Digital Health Foundation Series resources designed to support consistent understanding and correct use of Healthcare Identifiers (HI) and the HI Service across the health and care system.

The Digital Health Foundation Series features short, practical videos that guide providers through connecting to the HI Service and registering for key national digital health systems.

These resources make it easier for partners, educators and vendors to guide members, customers and stakeholders with clear and consistent information.

Revisit the resources and continue sharing them through partner channels, training programs and stakeholder communications

Healthcare Identifiers webpage

Learning Spotlight - Factsheets and flyers

Looking for a factsheet or flyer to support digital health adoption? The Digital Health Agency has a range of resources available via the online learning portal.

Resources for consumers include brochures and factsheets about better and faster access to pathology and radiology reports in My Health Record, the 1800MEDICARE app, electronic prescriptions and more.

Resources for healthcare providers include the newly updated My Health Record organisation registration checklist, a factsheet on setting up access to the National Provider Portal and one on the My Health Record emergency access function.

Also available are a range of resources from our stakeholders including My Health Record storybooks, easy read resources, LGBTIQ+ factsheets and plain language videos.

Health Connect Australia Provider Directory – FHIR® Implementation Guide Now Available

The transition of the Healthcare Provider Directory (HPD) from Services Australia to the Agency continues to progress, building on the strong foundations already in place and advancing delivery of the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory.

As part of the transition, the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory will move to FHIR® based APIs, to provide improved search and discovery functionality and support modern, secure system to system integration across the healthcare ecosystem. Existing HPD SOAP APIs are planned for future retirement (date to be confirmed), including:

• TECH.SIS.HI.17 – Search for Individual Provider Directory Entry
• TECH.SIS.HI.18 – Search for Organisation Provider Directory Entry

The Agency is targeting becoming the HPD Operator by the end of January 2027, with transition activities continuing to support a smooth and orderly handover.

FHIR Implementation Guide now available

A key milestone has been reached with the release of the Health Connect Australia Provider Directory FHIR Implementation Guide (IG). Access the FHIR IG on the Health Connect Australia Digital Health Implementer Hub.

The FHIR IG provides clear technical guidance for software vendors and integration partners to connect to the national provider directory using modern, standards based FHIR APIs. This supports the planned move away from SOAP APIs and enables secure, automated access to verified healthcare provider information.

The availability of the FHIR IG allows vendors to commence planning and readiness activities, supporting a smooth and orderly transition to the new Health Connect Australia Provider Directory.

Transition approach and engagement focus

As part of this phase, a transition assessment of impacted people and engagement groups is underway to ensure roles, responsibilities, and support arrangements are clearly understood and appropriately managed. 

What this means for you

You are encouraged to review the FHIR Implementation Guide and begin thinking about readiness, adoption and migration planning. Access the FHIR IG on the Health Connect Australia Digital Health Implementer Hub.

If you have questions about the FHIR IG or the HPD transition, please email the Health Connect Australia team. Further updates will continue to be shared as the transition progresses and additional milestones are reached.

Services Australia are required to make updates to NASH PKI infrastructure which will include the creation of a new Chain of Trust. The change is required to move to a new managed service arrangement that meets current security standards and supports future needs. 

 What you need to know 

• Software Developers have been testing the new NASH Chain of Trust since 15 June 2026.  Software Vendors will need to have products compatible with the updated Chain of Trust in place before 13 August 2026.
• All Healthcare Organisations will automatically transition to new NASH certificates from 13 August 2026 when they next renew their NASH certificate.
• Some software products may require additional steps which will be communicated by the suppliers of those products to their customers.

What you need to do 

Access to digital health services will continue as normal and unless advised otherwise by your software supplier, there is no additional action to be taken by Healthcare Organisations and Contracted Service Providers (CSPs) other than to continue to replace NASH PKI certificates prior to expiry as per normal processes.

Should you have any questions regarding the above information please contact: [email protected].

The GoShare Program continues to provide community support via general practices sending SMS recall messages and health promotion activities.

Since the commencement of the program the total patients reached is 71,586 with 55 participating practices with 22 campaigns.

The Bowel Cancer and Cervical Recall Screening campaign continues to gain momentum following the ten educational roadshow events in country South Australia. Register your interest.

Country SA PHN GoShare Practice Registration

CDM Plus Webinars

You're invited to join our latest CDM Plus Member's Exclusive Webinar - Unexpected Deterioration in Residential Aged Care: Recognition, Escalation and After-Hours Care Across Aged Care and Primary Care. This practical webinar will explore how residential aged care and primary care teams can work together to recognise early signs of deterioration, communicate effectively and provide timely care, particularly after hours. Discover practical strategies, resources, and tools to support clinical decision-making, strengthen collaboration and improve outcomes for older people living in residential aged care.

Date: Tuesday 25th August 2026
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (NSW Time)
Email: [email protected]
Live Webinar: All members will have access to the recording and slides in their membership portal!
Need Help? Questions? Call 1800 549 769

How to Register

1. If you are already registered in the Country SA PHN Portal with CDM Plus – log into CDM Plus and click on the Webinar tile, then click on the Registration link

OR

• If you are not registered in the Country SA PHN Portal with CDM Plus – register here (then once you have access complete step 1)

Learning Objectives

• Recognise common signs and symptoms of unexpected deterioration in residential aged care residents and identify when escalation of care is required
• Understand the roles of residential aged care and primary care teams in recognising, communicating, escalating, and managing deterioration, including after-hours care

What will be covered

• Recognising deterioration – early signs, common causes, and red flags
• Team-based care – roles of aged care and primary care teams in recognising, escalating, and managing deterioration
• Practical tools and resources – including My After-Hours Action Plan, After-Hours Action Plans and HealthPathways

Who should attend?

Residential Aged Care staff, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, GPs, Practice Nurses, Primary Care teams and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of older people.

CDM Plus memberships

Country SA PHN are still offering free CDM plus corporate membership for general practices. If you’re interested in getting access to downloadable resources like billing sheets, templates, quality improvement planner etc. you can get it through the portal. Register for portal access.

Primary Care Portal

The Primary Care Portal serves as a streamlined, single point of online interaction for all things related to Country SA PHN. The portal offers a variety of features, providing practices with easy access to a range of clinical and quality improvement resources, including Practice Health Profiles, HealthPathways SA, education and webinar recordings, immunisation resources, accreditation support, and other tools to support evidence-based care and improve patient outcomes. The portal also enables commissioned service providers to access funding agreements, reporting requirements and other contract-related information in the same place.

To register your practice, email [email protected].

Practice Health Profile – Market Insights Sample Report Quality Improvement

Market Insights February - April 2026 reports now available via Primary Care Portal:

• The first section highlights the health service profile, community profile, and broader population characteristics, providing important context about the population you serve.
• The second section offers a detailed overview of your practice including patient demographics. It also compares your active patient cohort across areas such as health assessments, medication management, health summary uploads, and chronic conditions against Country SA PHN practices.
• The third section highlights gaps in clinical data and accreditation-related items, identifying the proportion of patients with missing information such as allergies, alcohol status, height, and weight.
• Finally, the report includes a quarterly snapshot of the 10 PIP Quality Improvement Measures (QIM), with comparisons to both Country SA PHN and national averages.

If you have identified opportunities to improve and enhance the quality of care delivered to your patients, you can utilise the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles templates readily available through Primary Care Portal.