Software test facility launched for HI Service
1 March 2010. A new software testing environment for the national Healthcare Identifier Service was officially launched today.
The facility is managed by Medicare Australia, which has been contracted by NEHTA to operate the HI Service for an initial two year period.
It will assist early adopters in the commercial software market to build and test connection with the national HI Service ahead of legislation, currently before Federal Parliament, that will allow the service to operate.
If successful, the HI Service legislation is expected to be in place by 1 July 2010 but the service is unlikely to be in full operation across Australia for at least 18 months. A phased rollout is planned to ensure adequate resources are available to support uptake by the nation’s clinicians, consumers and e-health software suppliers.
The Medicare test environment currently supports limited Release 1 of the HI Service with additional Release 2 functionality due by early April and Release 3 scheduled for the end of June.
Commercial vendors need to register their interest and sign a developers’ agreement in order to access a range of technical documentation, support materials and updates through Medicare’s Online Technical Support Service.
Vendors wishing to access the test environment should telephone Medicare on weekdays between 8.30am and 5pm ESDT on 1300 550 115 and select Option 7 for the HI Service. Alternatively, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
For more information visit the HI Service section on our website.