Modernising assignment of benefit: delayed implementation to 1 July 2026

The Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 was passed by Parliament on 30 October 2025 and received Royal Assent on 4 November 2025. The Bill will delay commencement of new assignment of benefit processes for all Medicare bulk billed services from 9 January 2026 to commence from 1 July 2026, providing more time for medical providers and patients to prepare.

The Bill also makes the following minor amendments:

• for bulk billed assignment:

• enable regulations for enduring assignment agreements for bulk billing to specify the circumstances in which these agreements may be entered into or terminated, and the kind of professional services they apply to; and
• enable the Minister to determine, by legislative instrument, categories of professional services (to simplify the administration of the ‘basic service description’ for use in episodic pre-assignment agreements for bulk billing).

• for simplified billing assignment:

• clarify than any eligible person who is covered under a complying health insurance policy (CHIP) issued by a private health insurer to assign their Medicare benefits; and,
• amend mandatory notification requirements for simplified billing to reduce administrative burden on providers.

Details of the Bill and an Explanatory Memorandum are available online. 

The Bill has no impact on the Health Insurance Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits and Other Measures) Regulations 2025 published on 21 August 2025 for episodic bulk billed agreements and simplified billing agreements.  Drafting of regulations to support enduring assignment of benefit agreements for bulk billed Medicare services is currently underway.