My Health Record

What is My Health Record?

My Health Record is an online summary of your health information. It can include details of your:

• medical conditions and treatments 
• medicine details 
• allergies
  
• tests or scan results.

Healthcare providers like doctors, specialists and hospital staff may also be able to see your My Health Record when they need to, including in an accident or emergency. They can also add clinical documents about your health to your record.

My Health Record is managed by the Australian Digital Health Agency. 

A My Health Record would have been created for you unless you opted out by 31 January 2019.

For more information, see My Health Record on the digital health website.

What information is on My Health Record?

Up to two years of past Medicare data may be added to your record when you first get one, as well as your Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) claims history. If you choose, you can remove this information after you log in.

Your medical history, such as older tests and scan reports, will not be automatically uploaded to your My Health Record. Only new reports can be uploaded by participating pathology labs or diagnostic imaging providers.

Is My Health Record safe and secure?

There is legislation, technology, processes and people keeping the My Health Record system safe and secure. This includes: 

• de-identifying data
• system security
• My Health Record suspension
• Additional options where there has been or is a risk of family and domestic violence  
• Privacy policies.

For more information, see My Health Record System security on the digitalhealth website.

I have a My Health Record but I don't want it anymore. What can I do?

If you already have a My Health Record and decide you don't want one anymore, you can cancel it at any time. 

You can cancel your My Health Record through your myGov account.

If you need any help, you should contact the My Health Record Help line on 1800 723 471.

For more information, see Cancelling a record on the digital health website.

If I cancel a My Health Record, what happens to my information?

When you cancel your My Health Record, all information in the record, including any back ups, will be permanently destroyed. Deleted information can't be recovered. Your health information will no longer be available to you and your healthcare providers, including in an emergency. 

If you delete your My Health Record and you are an authorised representative for another person (such as your child), some identifying information will be kept so you can continue to access that record. 

Can I re-register a cancelled record?

You can re-register for a My Health Record at any time through your myGov account or by contacting the My Health Record Help line on 1800 723 471.

If you re-register, your new My Health Record will not contain any information from your previous record. 

For more information, see Set up your record online on the digital health website.

How do I manage who has access to My Health Record?

You can manage your My Health Record in a number of ways. 

You can control who has access by setting:

• a record access code, controlling which health care provider sees your record
• a limited document access code, controlling a health care provider's access to specific documents
• a personal access code, allowing your nominated representative to access your My Health Record.

You can also remove clinical and Medicare documents from your My Health Record.

For more information, see Privacy and access on the digital health website.

Can health care providers' access my My Health Record without my permission in an emergency?

If there is a serious threat to your health or safety, a health care provider may access your My Health Record. For a health care provider to access your My Health Record, they will need to have:

• your Medicare number
  
• surname
  
• date of birth
  
• gender.
  

They will have access for a maximum of five days.

Emergency access may also be granted if there is a serious threat to public health or safety.

For more information, see Emergency access on the digital health website.

What if I am unhappy with how my My Health Record was handled?

Depending on your circumstances, you may consider:

• getting an idea of the cause and extent of the breach
  
• updating your security settings to prevent any future issues
• contacting the party handling your My Health Record to make a complaint
• contacting digital health to discuss your concern
• making a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

For information about making a complaint to OAIC, see Make a My Health Record complaint on the OAIC website.

If you are not sure what to do, you should get legal advice.