Rough calculations in Senate Estimates on Tuesday have seen the Department of Health and Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) agree that around 500,000 Australians will opt out of having a My Health Record if the same behaviour exhibited in a trial extends to the rest of the country.
Under questioning, an official from ADHA said in its trial involving 1 million people, only 1.9 percent opted out.
"We have had feedback from the two regions -- Nepean/Blue Mountains and Far North Queensland -- that there has actually been the opposite effect [of people opting out as time went on]," ADHA COO Bettina McMahon said. "Health care providers have had [opt-out] consumers come to them and say that they now want a record and they have actually chosen to opt in since then.
"And are now more comfortable as time has gone on."
Earlier this month, ADHA revealed that Australians would be able to opt out during a window[1] from July 15 to October 15. As it currently stands, although 5.8 million Australians have a record, no one can opt out yet.
Those interested in opting out can register on the My Health Record site to be alerted when the window opens, and 11,000 people have done so.
The process for opting out will be via an online form, calling 1800 723 471, or via paper form for those in rural areas.
Although My Health Record has options for a number of access codes to change the default setting of general access to health care providers, and instead restrict data to nominated health care providers or people, less than 0.1 percent of 5.8 million users have done so.
"Consistent with international