Halaxy, Medicare & NDIS: What’s changed?
7 August 2026
One of the realities of private practice is that things are constantly changing. Over the past few weeks, we've been helping our clients navigate several important updates affecting Halaxy users across Australia. Rather than keeping this information tucked away in separate emails, we've brought the key points together in one place.
If you are managing your own Halaxy account, we hope this summary saves you time and gives you confidence that you're heading in the right direction. Even if you aren't a Halaxy user, we recommend reviewing this information to support you with clinical processes.
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1. Bulk billing is changing
Medicare now requires clients to assign their benefit before bulk bill claims can be processed.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has confirmed a 12-month transition period for new Assignment of Benefit requirements that were due to fully take effect from 1 July 2026.
If you are a Zanda user, this is the reason that nothing has been rolled out for you yet. Verbal assignment of benefit will continue to be accepted in all settings for bulk billed services for the next 12 months, so there is no need to change your current consent process for now.
For Halaxy users, it’s a good idea to get used to the new process now, so you’re ahead of the game. While this adds an extra step to the billing process, Halaxy includes functionality to streamline the workflow.
To support our clients, we recorded these quick-reference videos:
If we manage your invoicing as part of your ongoing support package, we've already taken care of these changes for you.
2. Mental Health Treatment Plan referrals made clear
Since the referral changes introduced in November 2026, we've seen considerable uncertainty between GPs and mental health professionals regarding valid Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) referrals.
Rather than relying on assumptions, we contacted AskMBS directly to clarify the current requirements:
Does the GP need to specify the number of sessions on the referral?
Yes!! They can state a maximum of 6 sessions in any one referral.
Most GPs will do 6 sessions as the initial course of treatment, followed by 4 sessions for the subsequent courses of treatment. Then just cycle back and forwards through 6 and 4 sessions respectively. However, it is possible for the GP to just state 6 sessions on every referral - this is OK.
What if the GP specifies a number of sessions on a referral that adds up to more than 10 in the calendar year?
That's OK - the GP can refer for a maximum of 6 sessions on any referral. Any sessions that are over the 10 sessions for the year, will just roll into the following year. (Back to our "original" method of handling referrals!)
This seemed contradictory to the information on the MBS website, however, this is the specific information we received from AskMBS when we queried them:
With regard to your enquiry, if a patient who has received 8 services in a calendar year receives a new referral for more than 2 services (but not more than 6), the patient can receive the 2 services remaining to them in that year, and the balance of services under the referral in the following year.
What if the GP states 10 sessions on a referral?
The referral is not valid. The GP cannot state more than 6 sessions at one time as that is the "maximum allowed for a course of treatment".
You will need to ask the GP to amend the letter.
The GP hasn't stated a number of sessions on the referral - can I accept it?
No. The GP needs to state a maximum of 6 sessions on the referral. You will need to ask the GP to amend the letter.
What if the GP doesn't amend the referral to include the correct number of sessions?
In instances where you are unable to confirm the number of sessions with the referring practitioner, the Mental Health Professional can use their clinical judgment to provide services under the referral.
Our recommendation is to seek clarification in writing (email/letter), and if you don't hear back from the GP, you can accept the "invalid" referral and upload your email/letter with the referral so you have the relevant evidence on file.
The GP has just sent through the MHTP, not a referral letter - can I accept this as a referral?
No. The GP needs to send a referral letter as well. The only time there is a grey area is if they state on the MHTP document that "this document acts as the referral". Most GPs know they need to provide a referral letter along with the Plan document, so this is very rare (but it does still occur).
3. NDIS invoicing has changed
New item numbers mean invoices should now contain multiple billable components.
From 1 July 2026, NDIS introduced new item numbers for the different services provided by clinician, which has resulted in situations where direct client time and non-face-to-face work are invoiced together.
We've spent the past month testing different approaches within Halaxy and have developed a workflow that keeps invoicing accurate while minimising unnecessary administration.
To help clinicians implement these changes, we've prepared the following quick reference videos:
Provider travel can also be configured using the same item fee setup and workflow.
If our team manages your invoicing, these updates have already been implemented for you.
Why we share updates like these
Running a successful private practice isn't only about delivering excellent clinical care. It's also about staying across software updates, Medicare requirements, referral changes, billing processes, compliance, and the countless administrative details that keep your business running smoothly.
It's a lot.
One of the biggest advantages of partnering with a team like Virtual Vibrance is knowing someone else is keeping an eye on these changes for you.
When Halaxy updates its functionality, Medicare changes its processes, or new billing requirements are introduced, we're already researching the implications and possibilities, testing solutions, and implementing practical workflows before they become tomorrow's headache.
That means less time troubleshooting, less uncertainty, and more time doing what you do best: supporting your clients.
Whether you manage your own Halaxy account or would like us to take some of the administrative load off your shoulders, we're here to help you get the most from your systems, stay informed, and build a practice that's both compliant and sustainable.
July 2026 Industry Update: Medicare and practice management requirements change periodically. We recommend checking back regularly for the latest updates and practical guidance from the Virtual Vibrance team.
