Assignment of Benefit (AoB) Resources
Key Takeaways
- From 29 July 2026, Medicare implemented further changes to the Assignment of Benefit (AoB) process when supplying bulk-billed services.
- Patients need to consent to Narangba Station Medical Centre providing a bulk-billed Medicare claim on their behalf.
- Consent can be given electronically, verbally (wherever reasonable), or by way of a paper Medicare Assignment of Benefit form.
- Some patients will be able to set up an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement to nominate that eligible bulk billed services can be processed in the future without having to provide consent each time.
- In the event that consent has not been provided and there is no valid enduring agreement in place, the appointment will not be able to be bulk billed. A private fee will be charged and you can claim your Medicare rebate from Medicare directly.
Changes to Bulk Billing at Narangba Station Medical Centre
Medicare has introduced changes to the Assignment of Benefit (AoB) process for bulk-billed services, with updates rolling out from 1 July 2026 and further changes taking effect from 29 July 2026.
These updates reinforce how we collect your consent before Medicare pays your benefit directly to Narangba Station Medical Centre when you receive eligible bulk-billed services. They also provide eligible patients with additional options, such as Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreements.
In most cases, these changes won't affect you. If your appointment is bulk-billed, you will be asked to provide your consent after your appointment using one of Medicare's approved methods. This can be done electronically or at reception.
If you have signed an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement then you may not be required to consent each time you receive an eligible bulk-billed service.
This page will guide you through Assignment of Benefit, the process for giving consent, and the implications of these Medicare updates for your visits to Narangba Station Medical Centre.
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What is Assignment of Benefit?
Assignment of Benefit (AoB) means allowing Medicare to pay your Medicare benefit directly to the provider rather than making a claim yourself.
In the past, providers may not have always asked you to provide written consent for every bulk-billed consultation. Moving forward, consent will need to be obtained prior to making a bulk-billed claim.
What is an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement?
An Enduring Assignment of Benefit means that a patient who is eligible can consent for Medicare benefits to be paid to Narangba Station Medical Centre for all future eligible bulk-billed services.
Instead of signing a new consent form at each appointment, the practice can claim eligible Medicare benefits on your behalf until the enduring agreement is cancelled or revoked.
Not all patients or appointments will be appropriate for an enduring agreement. Our staff will explain if this is available for you and what it involves before seeking your consent.
Patients have the right to cancel their Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement at any time by contacting the practice.
When Does an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement Start?
Recent changes to Medicare from 29 July 2026 permit eligible patients to sign an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement with their healthcare provider.
After the enduring agreement form is completed and accepted, it will apply to future eligible bulk-billed Medicare services until it is cancelled or withdrawn.
In the absence of an enduring agreement, consent will need to be obtained for each eligible bulk-billed service using one of the consent mechanisms approved by Medicare.
What Does This Mean For You?
If your appointment is bulk-billable, you will still be able to receive bulk-billed services at Narangba Station Medical Centre.
The difference will be that you will need to give us consent to directly assign your Medicare benefit to the practice. Consent can be provided at reception or via an SMS link or another method made available to you.
If consent has not been given, the practice will not be able to accept the appointment as a bulk-billed Medicare service. In this case, a private fee will apply and you may claim your Medicare rebate from Medicare.
How Will I Provide My Consent?
To make things easy, Narangba Station Medical Centre may collect your Assignment of Benefit consent in several ways.
Depending on your appointment and the options available at our clinic, you may be asked to:
Confirm Consent at Reception
After your consultation, our reception team may ask you to confirm your Assignment of Benefits on the EFTPOS machine or complete a Medicare Assignment of Benefit form (DB4) at reception. This allows us to process your Medicare rebate directly.
If you are eligible for bulk billing, there is no out-of-pocket cost for your appointment. If your consultation is not bulk billed, our reception team will advise you of any fees payable.
Complete Consent via SMS
You may receive a text message after your bulk-billed consultation with a link to provide your consent online.
The SMS will come from our dedicated number: 0439 919 133
For security purposes, the password to load the form is your Date of Birth. Please save this number in your phone as Narangba Station Medical Centre SMS so you know the message is from our clinic.
Provide Verbal Consent
In some situations, we may ask you to provide verbal consent for your Assignment of Benefit.
What Happens If I Don’t Provide Consent?
If you decide not to assign your Medicare benefit or complete the consent process, you will not be able to have your consultation bulk billed. Instead, you will be charged privately for your appointment and can claim your Medicare benefit back from Medicare.
How the New Medicare Consent Process Works
| Step | What Happens | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Attend Your Appointment | Attend your consultation as usual with your GP or healthcare provider. | Your healthcare provider will complete your consultation and confirm the service provided. |
| 2. Provide Your Assignment of Benefit Consent | You may be asked to provide consent after your consultation through an SMS link, at reception via EFTPOS, or by completing a paper DB4 form if required. |
Consent allows Medicare to pay your benefit directly to Narangba Station Medical Centre. If you have an Enduring Assignment of Benefit Agreement in place, additional consent may not be required for future eligible services. |
| 3. Medicare Processes Your Benefit | Once consent has been provided, the practice can submit your Medicare claim. | If your appointment is eligible for bulk billing, there is no out-of-pocket cost. |
| 4. If Consent Is Not Provided | Your appointment cannot be processed as a bulk-billed Medicare service. | You will be charged privately for your appointment and can claim your Medicare rebate directly from Medicare. |
Are All Services Bulk Billed?
Not all services can be bulk billed. It depends on the service you require and your personal circumstances. You may need to pay for some services (such as procedures or injections) up front, before you receive your Medicare rebate.
Please contact our friendly reception team, who can advise you of any applicable fees prior to confirming your appointment.
Sources
This information has been prepared using guidance from:
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact & Bookings
To make an appointment, please call reception or use our online booking system via the button below. You can also visit our contact page to see further details about our location and directions.
Bookings are available from as early as 7AM on weekdays and Saturday. We are also open Sunday afternoon and late evening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8:30PM.
Can't find us? - We are situated across the road from Narangba Train Station next to the Narangba Village shopping complex. Look for signs for Narangba Station Medical Centre and IGA.
Serving patients in Narangba, Burpengary, Dakabin, Deception Bay, Morayfield, North Lakes and North Brisbane surrounds