Our work related to Medicare

Signed by all Australian governments, the 2020–25 Addendum to National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) aims to improve health outcomes for all Australians and ensure our health system is sustainable.

On 1 November 2024, the legislated need for collaborative arrangements between participating midwives, nurse practitioners and medical practitioners to provide Medicare Benefits Schedule services and prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications was removed.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing the 1 August 2020 changes to ECG MBS items.

Electronic prescribing is now widely available in the community setting. It provides an option for healthcare providers and consumers to use an electronic prescription as an alternative to paper prescriptions. Paper prescriptions are still available.

The General Practice in Aged Care Incentive supports older people living in residential aged care. This will help them receive quality primary care services from their regular provider and practice.

We are working to create digital solutions to improve the Medicare payment processes. This will increase transparency for patients and better ensure the integrity of Medicare.

The Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP) helps approved Australians who have a life-threatening medical condition access life-saving medical treatment overseas where treatment is not available in Australia.

The MBS Continuous Review ensures the MBS continues to support high-quality care, remains flexible, and stays up to date. We do this through a process of ongoing expert reviews.

The MBS Review considered how MBS items could be better aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice, to improve health outcomes. The review ran from 2015 to 2020. The Australian Government has progressively considered and implemented the recommendations.

The expanded eligibility for aged care residents under the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Better Access) initiative, through GP referral, ceases on 31 December 2022.

Medicare Mental Health Centres are a welcoming and non-judgemental place where you can access free mental health information, services and supports.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) give you and your family more options to see a doctor or nurse when you need care for urgent, but not life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to formalise the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner and primary care teams. Find out who is eligible and how you can register.

The Practitioner Review Program (PRP) identifies and intervenes where practitioners’ and corporate entities’ activities under Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) may indicate potential inappropriate practice.

The QUDTP program supports the quality use of medicines and medical tests for health professionals and patients in Australia.

The Radiation Oncology Health Program Grants Scheme helps public and private radiation oncology providers in areas of greatest need to purchase eligible radiation therapy equipment.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing long-acting reversible contraceptive MBS items.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing MBS allied health chronic disease management services.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing MBS time-tiered items for primary care.

If we detect incorrect Medicare payments during a compliance audit, the Shared Debt Recovery Scheme allows us to split a debt between the practitioner and the person who manages their billing and claiming.

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing sport and exercise medicine MBS items.

We are putting practical measures in place to address challenges in our healthcare system and build a stronger Medicare for future generations. These measures aim to improve primary care for all Australians with a focus on 4 priority areas.

This initiative gives general practitioners (GPs) an opportunity to self-assess their pathology referral process using data relevant to them. It supports quality use of pathology requests, or other alternatives if they are a better choice.

Strengthening Medicare with more bulk billing from 1 Nov 2025. The Australian Government is investing $7.9 billion to expand eligibility for bulk billing incentives to all Australians and establish the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program to support general practices to bulk bill all patients

Learn about how the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) is reviewing VIR MBS items.