Assignment requirements when a patient assigns their Medicare benefit to the servicing provider as full payment for health services.
When a patient is bulk billed, a completed assignment of benefit agreement from the patient or an assignor on their behalf must be obtained. This confirms that the health professional can claim their Medicare benefit as full payment for the service.
Assignment of benefit is the process where a patient authorises Medicare to pay their healthcare provider directly for a bulk billed service, so they don’t pay anything out-of-pocket for the service.
This process is being modernised to strengthen Medicare, reduce administrative burden and streamline bulk billing workflows.
From 1 July 2026, the following changes have been made to the assignment of benefit policy and process:
- assignment of benefit can occur either before or after the service has been rendered to the patient
- new ‘enduring’ assignment of benefit agreements will mean eligible patients will also be able to give consent for ongoing bulk billed GP services
- an assignment can be made either electronically or on paper
- an approved assignment of benefit form will no longer be required, but the agreement must specify particular information as set out in the Health Insurance Regulations 2018
- health professionals need to retain a copy of the assignment of benefit agreement for 2 years from the date the claim is made
- using the notation ‘Patient unable to sign’ is no longer acceptable.
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/assignment-benefit-for-bulk-bill-claims?context=20
