CORRESPONDENCE
13 July 2026

Proposed Medicare changes add to GP frustration

13 July 2026

AMA Queensland has further written to Minister Butler to raise concerns about the impacts the changes to assignment of benefit processes will have on Queensland’s GPs in schools program.

Read correspondence

18 June 2026
Doctors will have seen welcome announcements that changes to assignment of benefit requirements set to commence on 1 July will be modified. This follows on from AMA Queensland representatives raising this issue direct with Minister Butler, including just yesterday (Wednesday 17 June) at a government roundtable in Brisbane.
  
The department is set to provide a 12-month transition period for the cessation of verbal consent and bring forward enduring consents for vulnerable patients from 1 July. AMA Queensland has been raising various issues that our members have identified with the changes, particularly for patients in aged care and those without digital access, so this is a sensible decision that will reduce pressure on private practices. 
  
Members are advised to continue work to establish electronic assignment of benefits based on guidance from their practice software providers, many of which are publishing regular updates on their websites. 
  
We will continue liaising with the department and Minister to reduce the burden of these changes on AMA Queensland members.

You can read more about the proposed changes here:

• Department website
• Frequently asked questions

2 June 2026

AMA Queensland has written to Minister Butler to express GP frustration about proposed changes to Medicare assignment of benefit arrangements. The changes, to commence on 1 July, come after a long round of blows to the profession, leaving GPs reeling.

Read our letter to the Minister for Health and Aging