The Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 1) Bill 2025 updates multiple health statutes to streamline administrative processes, improve consistency in private health insurance rebates, modernise Medicare benefit assignment rules, and reform the Bonded Medical Program.

It introduces legislative authority for automated allocation and management of Medicare provider numbers, aligns the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 with electronic processing requirements, postpones certain assignment‐of‐benefits changes to 1 July 2026, and adjusts obligations and penalties under the Bonded Medical Program to balance fairness and workforce needs.

The Bill makes four main sets of amendments:

• Schedule 1 (Health Insurance Act 1973): Inserts a new Part IIIA authorising the Chief Executive Medicare (CEM) to allocate, suspend, revoke and manage Medicare provider numbers (MPNs), including by approved computer programs under detailed criteria and oversight provisions. It validates previous program‐issued MPNs and provides internal and external merits‐review rights.
• Schedule 2 (Private Health Insurance Act 2007): Clarifies registration and claims processes for the Private Health Insurance Rebate Premiums Reduction Scheme, introduces information‐gathering powers, recovery of overpayments, and permits automated decision‐making for insurer rebates, with transitional provisions to preserve existing registrations.
• Schedule 3 (Assignment of Medicare Benefits): Amends the Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Assignment of Medicare Benefits) Act 2024 to delay commencement of bulk‐billing and simplified billing assignments from 9 January 2026 to 1 July 2026. It also empowers the Minister to prescribe digital assignment agreements and notification requirements, reducing administrative burden while preserving consumer protections.
• Schedule 4 (Bonded Medical Program): Adjusts Part VD of the Health Insurance Act to remove the six-year Medicare ban and CSP‐repayment requirement for certain withdrawals, extend the ‘grace’ period to degree completion, and allow the Minister discretion to recognise prior service toward return-of-service obligations (RoSO), ensuring penalties and obligations are fair and support workforce retention.