Ask Me Anything... MyMedicare Refresher for 2026

MyMedicare, Australia's voluntary patient registration system for general practice, has entered a critical implementation phase heading into 2026. Introduced to strengthen continuity of care by formally linking patients to a preferred practice, GP, and primary care team, it underpins major funding and service reforms in Medicare.

The urgency stems from key changes rolled out in 2025 that tie incentives and MBS item access to MyMedicare participation. From 1 July 2025, reformed chronic condition management items prioritize continuity: registered patients primarily access these services through their MyMedicare practice, supporting multidisciplinary team-based care for chronic and complex conditions (non-registered patients retain access via their usual GP).

From 1 November 2025, the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) launched to encourage bulk billing for all Medicare-eligible patients, providing payments to participating practices. While BBPIP participation does not require patient registration, MyMedicare readiness enables practices to maximize related incentives and patient engagement.

Practices must ensure accurate setups in the Organisation Register, MyMedicare, and individual HPOS accounts to administer BBPIP and the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI, effective since 1 July 2024 for residential aged care residents). With these programs now active, 2026 marks the first full year of operation, making system refreshes and compliance essential to secure incentive payments and avoid disruptions.

A temporary accreditation exemption for non-traditional practices—such as mobile, outreach, sole provider, and certain Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services—extends until 31 December 2026. This recognizes ongoing transitions in general practice accreditation definitions and gives affected practices time to prepare, but requires timely declarations and planning.

These reforms address broader pressures in Australian primary care, including chronic disease prevalence, aged care needs, and affordability concerns. By late 2025, nearly 18% of Australians had registered, affecting millions of patients and thousands of practices. Practices that fail to update risk forfeiting funding, while patients may experience less coordinated care if systems lag.