Web Services

From 13 March 2022, Web Services compatible software will need to be used to access each of the following digital health and aged care channels:

• Medicare Online, including Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
• Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Online
• ECLIPSE
• Aged Care Web Services

What is Web Services?

Web services is a technology that is used over the internet so that health professionals can securely share data with Services Australia.

Why are we moving to Web Services?

Most practice management software is currently connected to Services Australia via a Medicare Client Adaptor, which utilises a Medicare PKI certificate also known as a site certificate.

PKI certificates will be replaced with a new authentication system known as Provider Digital Access (PRODA). This is an online system that verifies each person’s identity and organisation using the Australian Business Register. Some of the advantages to PRODA include:

• Provides a higher level of security than PKI certificates
• Individual PRODA accounts will never expire. If you are a health professional and you change employers, your PRODA account will remain the same because it belongs to you as an individual.
• It’s portable and compatible with a range of different devices and systems.
• PRODA does not require additional hardware or software, unlike PKI certificates

The new system will be easier to update and develop, which will pave the way for improved functionality across some channels.

What does this mean for your Practice?

You may have already started receiving information about this change from Services Australia or from your software provider stating that from the 13th of March 2022, the current methods for accessing Medicare/DVA Claiming, Eclipse and the Australian Immunisation Register will no longer be available.

To ensure your practice is not impacted by this change it is important you upgrade your software to a version that supports Medicare Web services. This will vary with each software provider so we strongly recommend contacting your software provider for further information. 

What can you do now to prepare?

The following steps can help your practice prepare for Web Services:

1. Register your individual PRODA account
2. Register your organisation in PRODA
3. Manage your Members and Delegations within your Organisation
4. Register Subsidiary Organisations in PRODA (only if applicable)

Resources

• Services Australia – Web services
  • Web Services eKit
• Best Practice Software – Web Services enablement material
• Medical Director – Web Services live feed
• Zedmed – Lunch-n-learn Preparing your practice for Medicare Web Services