Telehealth Rules
Current Australian Medicare telehealth regulations, established relationship requirements, exemptions, and documentation standards for medical practitioners and nurse practitioners.
Exemption Quick Check
These patients are exempt from the 12-month established clinical relationship requirement:
Evolution of Australian Telehealth
March 2020: Emergency telehealth arrangements introduced for medical practitioners (GPs and specialists) during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
1 January 2022: Permanent telehealth programme established following successful implementation, formalising ongoing arrangements for medical practitioners.
1 November 2025: Nurse Practitioner requirements align with medical practitioner standards, introducing the 12-month established clinical relationship requirement with the same six exemptions.
Australian healthcare practitioners have different practice models, patient relationships, and billing arrangements. These telehealth regulations reflect the evolution and maturity of each profession's scope of practice within the Australian healthcare system.
Established Clinical Relationship
Patients must have attended an in-person consultation with their medical practitioner—or another practitioner within the same practice—within the 12 months prior to claiming a telehealth consultation.
Medicare telehealth became a permanent programme on 1 January 2022. The 12-month requirement is the standard established clinical relationship for GP and specialist telehealth consultations.
Documentation essentials
- • Obtain and document patient consent for telehealth consultations.
- • Verify patient identity using appropriate methods.
- • Ensure telehealth is clinically appropriate for the consultation type.
- • Maintain comprehensive records as per standard consultation requirements.
Natural Disaster Telehealth Provisions
When a State or Territory government declares a natural disaster for a local government area, Medicare provides additional flexibility so patients can maintain access to telehealth services.
- • Automatic exemption from the 12-month established clinical relationship requirement.
- • Enhanced flexibility in consultation types and durations.
- • Priority processing for disaster-related telehealth claims.
- • Provisions typically remain active through the disaster and recovery period.
Understanding the grey areas
TeleCheck shows the black-and-white data (official disaster status, AGRN numbers). Clinicians evaluate the grey areas—such as whether the disaster affects a patient's access to care—for their specific circumstances.
Official Sources
Important Compliance Note
TeleCheck provides objective verification based on official government disaster declarations to support your clinical decision-making. Healthcare practitioners remain responsible for understanding and adhering to all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards.
Professional autonomy and clinical judgement are preserved—you make the final eligibility determination for your patients. Always consult official MBS guidelines and seek professional advice when needed. This information is current as of December 2024.