Reforms to Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment program

Some of the changes being implemented from 1 July 2021 are:

• any PBS prescriber can register eligible Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people for the Program if they are not already registered
• PBS prescribers will no longer be legally required to write or electronically print ‘CTG’ on eligible PBS prescriptions for registered Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. However, annotation of a PBS script will help community pharmacies and Section 94 Approved Private Hospital pharmacists know that the patient is registered for the program, when dispensing the medicines
• General Schedule PBS prescriptions issued by PBS prescribers within public hospitals will now be eligible for the Program, provided they are dispensed by a community pharmacy or Section 94 Approved Private Hospital pharmacy.

Below are a number of resources providing more detail in regards to the Program reforms. There are four separate Fact Sheets targeted at the following stakeholder groups:

• Fact Sheet 1 – Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
• Fact Sheet 2 – Community Pharmacies
• Fact Sheet 3 – Hospital Pharmacies
• Fact Sheet 4 – Prescribers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners, and Peak Bodies

A Frequently Asked Questions document covering all stakeholder groups is also available here.