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My Health Record opt-out extended
The Senate has voted to extend the My Health Record opt-out period until 31 January 2019.
The extension of the opt-out period comes amid a number of calls for more public education regarding the system, including who can access the records.
The opt-out period was scheduled to end tomorrow, 15 November.
Labor’s original push for a 12-month extension of the My Health Record opt-out period was defeated 32–30; however, the Senate accepted One Nation’s amendment for a new deadline of 31 January 2019.
Despite the amendment, the My Health Record bill cannot pass both houses of Federal Parliament until the lower house returns on 26 November.
The amendment comes in the shadow of multiple reports of My Health Record systems crashing and phone lines being jammed.
Speaking on Sky News this morning, RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said he supports an extension to the opt-out period.
‘The legislation hasn’t been resolved, there’s no guarantees that it will get all the way through parliament,’ he said.
A total of 1,147,000 Australians had opted out of My Health Record as of 19 October, though Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and the Australian Digital Health Agency have not released further data on opt-out numbers.
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