ADHA to Take Over National Healthcare Provider Directory in Australia

Details

Based on its National Healthcare Interoperability Plan and Healthcare Identifiers Roadmap, ADHA proposes transferring responsibility for the national Healthcare Provider Directory starting in February 2027. The goal is to reduce duplication and provide a more comprehensive, near real-time national view of healthcare providers, organizations, and services. The plan involves integrating the existing Healthcare Provider Directory with the National Health Services Directory, proposing a unified 'Health Connect Australia Provider Directory.' This single access point aims to enhance the comprehensiveness of provider information. Furthermore, ADHA is pushing for the adoption of healthcare identifiers in clinical information flows. The agency urges participating organizations to include 'Healthcare Provider Identifier-Individual' when uploading documents to My Health Record. While only four organizations have successfully transitioned to this date, most temporary exemptions are expected to end by December 2026. ADHA reports that 35 out of 44 actions in the National Healthcare Interoperability Plan are complete. The focus is shifting from 'foundational planning and reform activities' to 'implementation and sector engagement,' emphasizing greater use of healthcare identifiers, improved matching, and scaled API-enabled, FHIR-based exchange. This transition represents a critical step in moving Australia’s entire healthcare system toward standardized information exchange models.