Assignment of Benefit

Patients can complete assignment of Medicare benefits either before (pre-assignment) or after (post-assignment) receiving a service.

Post-assignment of Benefit

Patients provide their consent to assignment of Medicare benefit after the service has been provided.

The health service provides exact service details using MBS items.

The patient must sign the DB4 - Post-assignment form either electronically or physically.

Retain the signed copy for at least 2 years after the service.

This assignment of benefit process has always existed in Communicare and is the standard bulk-billing process used historically. For more information, see Submit a Claim to Medicare.

Pre-assignment of Benefit

From 1 July 2026, the patient may provide their consent to assignment of Medicare benefit before their appointment or treatment, including at the time of booking, and prior to the service date.

The health service selects a basic service description for the service rather than the usual MBS items.

Use the AOB Pre Assignment clinical item together with either the AOB_Pre_Assignment_Agreement letter template or verbal agreement to record a patient's pre-assignment of benefit consent:
  1. Add the AOB Pre Assignment clinical item to a patient's record.
  2. On the Provider Details tab:
    1. In the AOB Provider Name search field, enter the name of the provider who the patient will see.
    2. Click Calculate AOB Provider Name and Number. The provider's details recorded in Communicare are added to the AOB Provider Name and Number field.
    3. From the AOB_pre_Basic Service Description list, select the anticipated service (used instead of MBS item numbers).
    4. If required, from the AOB_pre_Basic Service Description[1] list, select a second service.
  3. On the AOB Patient Consent - MUST COMPLETE tab:
    1. For AOB_pre_patient Agrees to Assign Benefit, read the conditions and select Yes.
    2. From the AOB_pre_Is the patient signing list, select Yes.
    3. From the AOB_pre_Patient Signature list, if the patient will sign the DB4 - Pre-assignment form, leave blank or if the patient has verbally consented to the Assignment of Benefit, select Assignor verbally agreed.
    4. From the AOB_pre_Patient requests copy list, select Yes if they require a printed copy of the consent, otherwise select No.
  4. Click Save iconSave & Write Letter.

If selected, the patient must sign the DB4 - Pre-assignment form either electronically or physically when they attend the clinic.

Retain the consent for at least 2 years after the service.

Enduring Assignment of Benefit

Use the AOB Enduring Assignment clinical item together with the AOB Enduring ACCHO_AMS Agreement letter template or verbal agreement to record a patient's Enduring Assignment of Benefits.

Confirm a patient's identity and record their agreement to assign their bulk billing incentives for some professional services:

  1. Add the AOB Enduring Assignment clinical item to a patient's record.
  2. On the Is the patient signing tab:
    1. If the patient is assigning their benefit:
      1. For AOB_enduring_Is Assignor the patient?, select Yes.
      2. Go to step 3.
    2. If someone other than the patient is assigning the patient's benefit on their behalf:
      1. For AOB_enduring_Is Assignor the patient?, select No.
      2. In the AOB_enduring_Name of Assignor field, enter the nominated assignor.
      3. From the AOB_Relationship to patient list, select the nominated assignor's relationship to the patient.
      4. From the AOB_enduring_Patient Signature to assign list, select Patient verbally accepted Assignor.
  3. On the AOB Patient Consent - MUST COMPLETE tab:
    1. For AOB_enduring_Patient agrees to assign, read the conditions and select Yes.
    2. From the AOB_enduring_Assignor's Signature list, if the patient will sign the AOB Enduring ACCHO_AMS Agreement, leave blank, or if the patient has verbally consented to the Assignment of Benefit, select Assignor verbally agreed.
  4. Click Save iconSave.