Recent changes to government legislation around Assignment of Benefit (AoB) have raised a number of questions from practices. This article answers the most common queries about what AoB is, how the requirements have changed, and what it means for your day to day use of MediRecords.
For a full overview of the changes, see Assignment of Benefit Changes: What's Coming on 1 July 2026, and for step by step guidance, see Assignment of Benefit: Workflow Guide.
Can I avoid using the AoB workflow until the verbal consent period ends in 12 months?
No, this is not possible. AoB is a legal requirement, and it cannot be deferred or disabled. Verbal consent still needs to be recorded in your practice in some way (within MediRecords or through another record-keeping method). Having verbal consent does not negate the legal requirement to obtain and store proof of patient consent.
How do I capture consent during a telehealth appointment?
If the patient is not physically present, you can send them a secure link by SMS. Once they approve, the AoB status on the invoice will update automatically and the claim will be ready for submission.
Why is this changing?
The Australian Government has updated the legislation governing how Medicare benefits can be assigned. The changes remove the requirement for a specific approved form and formally establish the two consent pathways providers can use.
Can a patient provide consent verbally?
Yes, from 1 July 2026 and for a period of 12 months, verbal consent will be accepted for all services. This concession was introduced following strong advocacy from the profession, and the government has committed to working with providers during this transition period to further reduce administrative burden.
MediRecords will introduce a more streamlined way to capture verbal consent. In the meantime, we will provide guidance on how to record verbal consent using the tools available at launch.
What steps should be taken if a patient is unable to sign?
If a patient is unable to sign, consent may be provided by an authorised representative, such as a guardian or person holding power of attorney. You should follow your site's policy on who is permitted to act on the patient's behalf and retain a record of the consent obtained in line with the two-year retention requirement.
How will this work in aged care and nursing home settings?
From 1 July 2026, Enduring Assignment will be available for residents of aged care facilities, bringing forward what was previously planned for April 2027. Enduring Assignment allows a broader, time-based consent arrangement that is better suited to ongoing care settings, so that individual consent does not need to be captured for every claim.
MediRecords already supports this concept through the Consent Module, where the consent expiry date is not mandatory, allowing an open-ended consent record to be held against the patient. We are waiting on further detail from the government before confirming how we will fully support Enduring Assignment in the application, and will share an update as soon as we have more information.
Is Enduring Assignment available for other patient groups?
Yes. In addition to aged care residents, Enduring Assignment is available from 1 July 2026 for all MyMedicare-registered patients and for patients attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Patients attending ACCHOs will also be able to hold Enduring Assignment across multiple sites.
What if the medical service ends up being different from what was originally booked or on the pre-assignment agreement?
If the service provided differs from what was recorded on the original AoB, you will need to obtain a new consent before submitting the claim. MediRecords will prompt you to do this if key invoice details change after consent has already been captured.
What if a patient does not agree to assign their Medicare benefit?
If a patient declines to assign their benefit, you should change the billing to Patient and collect payment directly. Nothing will be submitted to Medicare or the insurer on the patient's behalf without their consent. You can do this in MediRecords by updating the Bill to field on the invoice.
What happens to claims that are rejected or need to be resubmitted after 1 July 2026?
If a claim relates to a service rendered before 1 July 2026 but is being resubmitted or adjusted after that date, you will need to ensure the patient has agreed to assign their benefit using a document that meets the new legislative requirements. It is important to check this before resubmitting any claim after the changeover date, even if the original assignment was captured under the old process.
Do I need to do anything before 1 July 2026?
No. MediRecords will be updated ahead of the change date. When 1 July arrives, everything you need will already be in place. We will share detailed guidance before the release so your team knows what to expect.
Will this affect my financial reports?
No. Your financial reporting in MediRecords is not affected by these changes.
Comments
0 comments