In news that will come as a surprise to no one, the state and territory health ministers, along with new federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and special guest NZ Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, met in Melbourne today for one of their regular COAG Health Council hoedowns and agreed to adopt the opt-out participation model for the My Health Record on a national scale.

Exactly when the move will be triggered is anyone's guess as the exercise will probably cost squillions, but there has long been a consensus among the powers that be that a critical mass must be reached if the thing is ever to be of use and it was always more than probable that opt-out would be given the go-ahead. Dr Coleman would have taken an interest in today's developments as they are planning a national EHR across the ditch as well.