From 1 July 2021, prescribers must register eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the Closing the Gap (CTG) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Co-Payment Program if they are not already registered.
Any PBS prescriber or AHPRA registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner registered with Medicare as a provider can register eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the program via Health Professional Online Services (HPOS).
PBS prescribers will no longer be legally required to write or electronically print ‘CTG’ on eligible PBS prescriptions for registered Aboriginal and 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.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are already registered for the Program as at 30 June 2021, do not need to be re-registered for the Program.
Visit the Services Australia website for more information on how to register patients for the CTG PBS Co-payment via HPOS.
The Australian Government Department of Health has also developed factsheets for health professionals or Aboriginal patients.