Better & Faster Access Update – 5 March 2026

What is Better & Faster Access? 

Better & Faster Access is an initiative designed to improve the speed at which critical patient information, such as diagnostic imaging reports, becomes available to practitioners. Its key objectives are to: 

• Enable faster clinical decision-making
• Reduce delays in patient care
• Support safer, more informed treatment planning
• Improve communication and information sharing between healthcare providers 

What has changed from 5th March 2026 

• The 7-day delay will be removed for X-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs). Once these reports are uploaded by the diagnostic imaging provider, they will be immediately available to view in My Health Record and through the 1800MEDICARE app.
• Other X-rays and types of diagnostic imaging reports (for scans like CT scans, MRI and PET scans, mammograms and ultrasounds) will be available to view after 5 days, reduced from the previous 7-day delay. 

If there are multiple results in the same report, where different access timeframes apply, the 5-day delay period will apply to the entire report. 

These changes provide faster access to critical patient information, helping practices deliver timely and informed care. 

Resources & links 

• Better & Faster Access overview: Better and Faster Access
• Better and Faster Access Guide - for Healthcare Providers that request pathology and diagnostic imaging
• My Health Record updates: Modernising My Health Record – Improved access to health information | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• Frequently asked questions: Better and Faster Access 

Better and Faster access webinar