Better and Faster Access to Health Information – My Health Record

As part of the Modernising My Health Record (Sharing by Default) Act 2025, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has made changes to provide better and faster access to pathology and diagnostic imaging reports in My Health Record.

From October 2025, legislative changes require healthcare providers to share key health information to My Health Record by default, starting with pathology and diagnostic imaging providers. This requirement is expected to extend to other healthcare providers in the future.

Better Access - Sharing information to My Health Record by default

Benefits for Providers

• Better informed decisions

Healthcare team members will have better access to the information they need to coordinate care across different providers and settings.

• Register and use conformant software

Steps for how healthcare provider organisations can implement My Health Record are outlined online and support is available, if needed.

Implementing My Health Record in your healthcare organisation

Initially applies to pathology and diagnostic imaging reports

Legislation and rules will outline which health information needs to be shared to My Health Record by default, and by whom.

Impacted providers must share to My Health Record by default

Unless an exception applies or an extension of time to comply has been granted, providers must share by default from October 2025.

Benefits for Consumers

• Less duplication, greater efficiency

Individuals will not need to retell their health and wellbeing story to different healthcare providers and fewer duplicate tests will be required, as results will be accessible to all members of a person’s health care team.

• Supports Active Management of Health

Individuals can be empowered to access their key health information and be more active in their health and wellbeing journey.

• Improved safety and outcomes

Supports better and safer clinical decisions that can reduce avoidable adverse outcomes, hospital admissions and support safer care.

Faster Access - Immediate access to results

The seven-day delay has now been removed for most pathology tests, making reports available to individuals in their My Health Record as soon as they are uploaded. A five-day delay will still apply to some categories of results.

The below table outlines specific pathology and diagnostic imaging test/report types and their respective access delay.

Results discussion with healthcare providers

Results will still be sent directly to the referring GP or other healthcare provider. Despite this improved access to results, patients are still recommended to have results discussions with their treating practitioners to ensure understanding of the results and advice on ongoing health management.

For support and additional information

For digital health support please contact: help@digitalhealth.gov.au

more information: Better and Faster Access

If your organisation is not yet registered for My Health Record

Next steps for healthcare providers

• Register your organisation for My Health Record if not already connected.

• Ensure your clinical software can upload information to My Health Record.

• Access education and training resources to prepare your team for the new requirements.

• Download the guide for healthcare providers that request pathology and diagnostic imaging (requesting providers) or the guide for pathology and diagnostic imaging service providers.