MyMedicare is a recently launched, voluntary patient registration scheme by the federal government to strengthen Medicare in Australia. It allows patients to register with a chosen clinic and select their preferred GP, granting access to additional Medicare rebates, including bulk-billing for some services.. The scheme facilitates longer telehealth consultations by reinstating Medicare rebates for appointments exceeding 20 and 40 minutes.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners supports the initiative, particularly for vulnerable populations, and starting from November 1, doctors will receive triple incentives for bulk-billing certain patients for long telehealth appointments. MyMedicare is separate from My Health Record and only holds information about the regular GP, not clinical details. Eligibility requires a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card and to be seen face to face in clinic, at least twice in 2 years, with exemptions for those facing hardship.