Australians are viewing and sharing more pathology and diagnostic imaging reports through My Health Record after the Share by Default reforms took effect, with usage rising sharply in the first week under the new rules.
The reforms require pathology and diagnostic imaging reports prepared by, or on behalf of, a pathologist or radiologist to be uploaded to My Health Record by default unless an exception applies or an extension has been granted.
Agency figures show consumer views of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports have risen 433% since the 2023 policy announcement, reaching more than 3 million a week as of 7 June 2026. Over the same period, weekly uploads of those reports increased 105% to more than 5 million.
The policy marks a significant shift in how clinical information is shared across Australia's health system, giving patients access to reports through My Health Record and the 1800MEDICARE app.
Amanda Cattermole PSM, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency, said the changes are intended to give patients faster access to information and reduce repeated tests and repeated explanations across care settings.
"Share by Default is about making sure that more Australians have timely access to important health information, helping them have better-informed conversations with their healthcare providers and reducing the need to repeat their health story, or the need to keep repeating the same test, across different care settings," Cattermole said.
Sector response
Separate research by Black Book Market Research pointed to broad support among healthcare providers for the policy direction and its impact on information sharing.
Based on responses from 228 Australian healthcare providers, the research found 99% believe Share by Default can improve care coordination, reduce information gaps or support safer consumer access. It also found 91% believe the policy direction is right for Australia, while 94% agree it will improve care coordination and 92% agree it will reduce duplicate requests or missing information over time.
The findings also suggest much of the sector had prepared for the changes before they took effect. According to the research, 92% of healthcare organisations reported engaging with software providers on readiness work, while 85% had sought formal readiness information.
Cattermole said the results show strong support across the healthcare system for broader sharing of patient information.
"The strength of support identified through the Black Book research report is incredibly encouraging and shows a shared commitment across the sector to improving how health information is safely and securely shared," she said.
"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.
Economic impact
The increased flow of pathology and imaging reports into My Health Record is also expected to have a financial effect. The projected increase in sharing is expected to reduce duplicate testing and associated Medicare Benefits Schedule claims, with indicative savings of AUD $146.3 million over two years.
The estimate reinforces a longstanding argument for broader clinical data sharing: easier access to test results can reduce repeat procedures when patients move between GPs, specialists, hospitals and other services.
The agency said it had spent several years preparing for the reform through stakeholder engagement, education and implementation support. That work involved healthcare providers, peak bodies, jurisdictions, software vendors and other industry groups as organisations adjusted systems and workflows.
The first phase has focused on pathology and diagnostic imaging. Consultation is now under way on a further expansion covering mandatory sharing of medicines-related information from online prescribers.
The reform sits within a broader effort to make health records more routinely available across settings while giving patients a direct way to review their own information. More than 5 million pathology and diagnostic imaging reports are now being uploaded each week, underlining how quickly the default-sharing model is increasing the volume of data available through the national record system.