The federal government will not accept a recommendation made in last week's Senate committee report into the My Health Record that the opt-out period be extended, arguing it was important that people experienced the benefits of the system as quickly as possible and they could opt out in future if they wished.

So far, 1,141,700 people have opted out of having a record, which represents an extra 240,000 opt-outs in the last month. The first two months saw 900,000 people opt out.

Department of Health deputy secretary for health systems policy Caroline Edwards told a Senate Estimates committee hearing that the slowing trend was expected.