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Types of Healthcare Identifiers

As part of the service, every Australian resident has been allocated a unique 16 digit individual Healthcare Identifier (HI) number. You don’t need to remember or do anything with your HI number.  It has been created to be used by your healthcare providers to improve the security and management of your personal health information.

There are three types of Healthcare Identifiers:

• Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)—allocated to all individuals enrolled in Medicare, or who hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) treatment card and others who seek healthcare in Australia
• Healthcare Provider Identifier – Individual (HPI-I)—allocated to healthcare providers involved in providing patient care
• Healthcare Provider Identifier – Organisation (HPI-O)—allocated to organisations (such as a hospital or medical clinic) where healthcare is provided.