June 2026 updates

Industry Update: Medicare Assignment of Benefit Changes – What Nurse Practitioners Need to Know

Published: June 2026

The Australian Government has announced important updates to the Medicare Assignment of Benefit (AoB) reforms that commence on 1 July 2026.

Following feedback from healthcare providers, professional organisations and software vendors, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has introduced a 12-month transition period to support practices as they move to the new legislative requirements.

What does this mean for Nurse Practitioners?

During the transition period, verbal Assignment of Benefit will continue to be permitted for all bulk billed patients in all clinical settings, including face-to-face and telehealth consultations. This allows practices to continue their current consent processes while transitioning to new digital and electronic consent solutions.

The Department has advised that providers and software vendors who have already implemented digital Assignment of Benefit solutions should continue with these developments, as electronic consent remains the long-term direction of Medicare.

New enduring Assignment of Benefit option

From 1 July 2026, an enduring Assignment of Benefit will also become available for eligible patients receiving ongoing GP bulk billed services, including:

• Patients registered with MyMedicare

• Residents of residential aged care facilities

• Patients attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)

• Patients attending Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs)

This option allows eligible patients to provide a once-off agreement for future eligible bulk billed GP services, reducing the need to obtain consent at every consultation.

Compliance approach

The Department has confirmed that its compliance approach during the transition period will focus on education and prevention, while continuing to work with healthcare providers to support implementation of the new requirements.

What should practices do?

Nurse Practitioners and practice owners should:

• Continue obtaining and documenting patient consent for bulk billed services.

• Liaise with their practice management software provider regarding upcoming Assignment of Benefit functionality.

• Stay informed as further guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are released by the Department.

For the latest information, visit the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's official webpage:

Official resource: Improving the Assignment of Benefit Process

The Department has also published detailed Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Bulk Billing – Frequently Asked Questions, available here:

FAQs: Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Bulk Billing – Frequently Asked Questions

What about Nurse Practitioners?

While the Department's June 2026 update confirms that the 12-month transition period allowing verbal Assignment of Benefit applies to all bulk billed patients in all settings, it does not specifically address Nurse Practitioners in relation to the new enduring Assignment of Benefit arrangements.

The announcement refers specifically to general practitioners (GPs) when describing enduring Assignment of Benefit for eligible patients, including those registered with MyMedicare, residents of aged care facilities, and patients attending Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs).

At the time of publication, the Department has not released specific guidance confirming whether these enduring Assignment of Benefit arrangements will also apply to Medicare-eligible services provided by Nurse Practitioners.

NP Practice Fundamentals will continue to monitor updates from the Australian Government and Services Australia and provide further information as additional guidance becomes available.

March 2026 updates

Changes relating to diagnostic imaging services

From 1 March 2026, changes will be made relating to diagnostic imaging services. These changes include:

• eligibility for midwives and nurse practitioners to request MBS item 55080 for their patients commences. Item 55080 provides for ultrasounds for patients with complex gynaecological conditions.

Introduce 32 new MBS items for patient end support (PES) services

From 1 March 2026, new MBS items for PES services are being introduced as recommended by MRAC. These services allow for fuller assessment of treatment plans, improved assessment, multidisciplinary collaboration and support efficient clinical hand over. These services will allow GP’s, prescribed medical practitioners, or nurse practitioners to support a patient face to face during a video consultation with a specialist. The MBS benefit for these items will align with their existing MBS benefit amounts.

February 2026 updates

MBS Telehealth Update for Nurse Practitioners

Published: February 2026

Ongoing Medicare telehealth arrangements remain in place across Australia, supporting continued access to both video and telephone consultations delivered by eligible healthcare providers, including Nurse Practitioners.

The current MBS telehealth framework continues to support safe, equitable, and accessible healthcare delivery across general practice, specialist services, private practice, and telehealth settings.

Key Updates

• Telehealth MBS items remain available for eligible Nurse Practitioners
• Both video and telephone attendance items continue to be supported under current Medicare arrangements
• Patients in declared natural disaster areas may access telehealth services from any GP regardless of usual provider relationships
• Updated telehealth factsheets became available from 1 November 2025, including:
  • Mental Health Telehealth Services
  • Better Access Telehealth Services
  • Specialist Telehealth Services
  • Non-Referred Medical Practitioner Telehealth Services
  • Nurse Practitioner telehealth practitioner requirements

Additional Telehealth Item Changes

From 1 July 2025:

• 18 new video attendance items were introduced
• 5 new telephone attendance items were introduced

These changes include services relating to:

• Occupational medicine
• Pain medicine
• Palliative medicine
• Addiction medicine
• Sexual health medicine
• Gynaecology

Why This Matters for Nurse Practitioners

As telehealth continues to expand within Australian healthcare, it remains important for Nurse Practitioners to understand:

• eligibility requirements
• compliant documentation
• correct MBS billing practices
• telehealth item applicability
• audit and compliance considerations

👇 Download the fact sheet below for a practical summary of current NP telehealth billing requirements.