MyMedicare Accreditation Exemption date extended to 31 December 2026:
The Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) are pleased to advise that the accreditation exemption for non-traditional practices choosing to participate in MyMedicare has been extended from 30 June 2025 until 31 December 2026.
The accreditation exemption is available to non-accredited practices (including sole providers) who deliver general practice services entirely through mobile and outreach models:
in rural settings
in residential aged care
in disability residential settings
to First Nations Australians
to people experiencing homelessness
The extension is in recognition of the new definition of general practice for the purpose of accreditation, which may allow some non-accredited practices to now become accredited. This extension aims to support non-accredited practices in considering their accreditation options under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme.
Practices currently utilising this MyMedicare exemption will not need to take any action to update the new end date.
Reminders: Turn on your HPOS mailbox notifications
We know you receive a lot of correspondence via your individual and/or organisation Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) mailboxes:
While some of these may be statements or everyday notifications, some of these are important and require action.
Turn on notifications to receive alerts for new messages, to save you having to check regularly for new mail.
Now that the first MyMedicare Incentive is in place, please make sure you action any notifications as required, e.g. failed payments.
(Jan – March 2025 Quarter) & Reassessments
Payments for the MyMedicare General Practice in Aged Care Incentive quarterly assessment for January – March 2025 have been processed and notifications have been sent via Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) mailboxes. The time taken to receive funds is dependent on individual financial institutions.
Remember to check your HPOS notifications for any requiring action, e.g. failed payments due to missing or incorrect bank account details.
*IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR RESPONSIBLE PROVIDERS: Add bank account details to HPOS for the MyMedicare program or GPACI payments will not be able to be received. There are a number of providers who have not yet done this.
*REASSESSMENTS: There has been a delay in reassessing previous quarterly payments and therefore a delay in adjustments, including additional payments that practices and providers may be expecting. When reassessments have been processed, you will be notified of any adjustments to previous payments via your HPOS mailbox.
Tips on Managing the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI):
For GPACI, the relationship between the 3 participants is critical (the practice, the patient, and the Responsible Provider). The assessment process looks for this relationship, and anything that can potentially break or removeany of those relationships will impact GPACI payments for eligible services.
If there is a change in the relationship (e.g. new responsible provider) it is important that the previous relationship is maintained in the patient’s MyMedicare profile. Removing or deleting relationships will impact past payments.
*Note that the Responsible Provider may not be the same practitioner as the patient’s nominated Preferred GP (e.g. a registrar may be engaged to deliver RACH services).
Below are tips on managing GPACI correctly and some cautions on what not to do (also attached as infographics). *IMPORTANT: Using actions incorrectly can impact payments, including reassessment of past payments.
For the Incentive Period:
DOselect Set period and add a Start Date to add the Incentive to a patient’s MyMedicare profile.
DO NOT add an End Date to the Incentive period. When a patient is withdrawn from the MyMedicare program, the system will automatically end the Incentive period.
DO NOTAmend the Start Date for the Incentive period, unless it was incorrect and you understand the impact to payments.
DO NOTAmend the Incentive period at the start of every new quarter.
DO NOTDelete the Incentive unless it was added to the patient’s MyMedicare profile in error.
For the Responsible Provider:
DO Add the Responsible Provider and add a Start Date.
DO NOT add an End Date for the Responsible Provider. If a new Responsible Provider is added, the system will automatically end the previous Responsible Provider.
DO NOT Amend the Start Date for the Responsible Provider, unless it was incorrect and you understand the impact to payments.
DO NOT Remove the Responsible Provider unless they were added in error.
For the Patient:
DO Register the patient for the MyMedicare program as soon as possible and no later than 28 days after receiving the consent form (or they can register themselves online).
DO Add GPACI to the patient’s MyMedicare profile (as above).
DO Add a new Responsible Provider if required (only add a Start Date, do not add an End Date). Adding a new Responsible Provider will automatically end the previous one.
DO Add an Incentive periodEnd Date if the Patient asks to no longer be part of GPACI (Note, this is very unlikely).
DO Withdraw the patient if they ask to no longer be part of the MyMedicare program or are deceased. This will automatically end the Incentive.
DO NOT Remove a Responsible Provider. It is important that previous relationships are maintained, even if the patient has a new Responsible Provider added, no longer wants to be involved in GPACI or MyMedicare, or is withdrawn from MyMedicare. Removing responsible providers will impact reassessment of past payments.
DO NOT Move a patient to a new Organisation Site unless you understand the impact to payments. Moving a patient resets their MyMedicare registration date and restarts them in Quarter 1 for GPACI.
DO NOT Delete GPACI from a patient’s MyMedicare profile unless the Incentive was added in error. If the patient is deceased, withdraw them from MyMedicare but do notdelete the Incentive.
For further general support on MyMedicare or the General Practice Aged Care Incentive (GPACI), please contact CESPHNs Practice Support Team at practicesupport@cesphn.com.au
Immunisation Weekly Update: Federal ministers and national media react to falling vaccination rates Be mindful of measles before and after Hajj COVID-19 vaccine update and new resource Flu Vaccine Updates ‘Possible but rare’ RSV vaccine risk First Nations maternal vaccinations poster Federal ministers and national media react to falling vaccination…
Immunisation Weekly Update: CESPHN seeking Immunisation Working Group clinical representatives Lunch and Learn: Measles awareness and prevention in 2025 Concerns rise as vaccination rates continue to fall The latest influenza vaccination coverage data Access to existing Q Fever statements in the Q Fever Register to end 30 June 2025 Have…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Lunch and Learn: Measles awareness and prevention in 2025 Australia on track for record number of flu cases Free SMS recall – 2025 Quality Improvement programs Large-scale revamp of Handbook immunocompromised chapter In case you missed it… Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab) eligibility expansion Access to the Australian Immunisation Register…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Lunch and Learn: Measles awareness and prevention in 2025 New vaccination resources released Immunisation Handbook chapters updated Pharmacist Vaccination Standards updated Mpox disinformation corrected by experts New report on COVID-19 health impacts History of immunisation in Australia resource updated Lunch and Learn: Measles awareness and prevention in…
Immunisation Weekly Update: Updates to NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards Free ‘RSV Protection for Infants’ modules Updated vaccine co-administration resource Report Q fever vaccination records before 30 June Flu vaccine orders and updates Your experience matters: Have your say on vaccine storage Respiratory Surveillance Report Updates to NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards…