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My Health Record views rise under Share by Default changes
Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports are being viewed millions of times each week following the reform’s rollout.
The next phase of Share by Default reforms is expected to rollout next year, covering mandatory sharing of medicines-related information from online prescribers.
Share by Default reforms have seen patient views of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports on My Health Record increase to more than three million each week.
Healthcare providers uploads have also risen, with more than five million reports added weekly, according to the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA).
In the latest tranche of the reforms, which came into effect on 1 July, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports authored by, or on behalf of, a pathologist or radiologist must now be uploaded to My Health Record by default, unless an exception applies or an extension has been granted.
According to a June report, 99% of respondents believe Share by Default can improve care coordination, reduce information gaps, or support safer consumer access.
However, it also found 91% agree the policy direction is right, ‘but the software market must catch up’, and just 23% say their system can show upload success, failure, and retry history.
ADHA Chief Executive Amanda Cattermole labelled the reforms an ‘important step’ towards making health information easier to access.
‘This is about giving consumers and their healthcare teams better access to the information they need to support more connected, coordinated and informed care,’ she said.
The next phase of the Share by Default reforms is expected to rollout next year, with consultation progressing on mandatory sharing of medicines-related information from online prescribers.
The RACGP sees the reforms as a further step towards interoperability and an opportunity to modernise data sharing arrangements with patients and other healthcare providers.
However, it notes concerns that it could lead to patients declining follow-up care, requesting longer follow-up consults, or experiencing anxiety from self-interpreting the results.
The ADHA says sharing pathology and diagnostic imaging reports is expected to reduce duplicate testing and associated Medicare Benefits Schedule claims, resulting in savings of $146.3 million over two years.
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