👩⚕️ Clinical reference for health professionals. This page summarises published clinical guidance and is not medical advice. Patients and members of the public: please don’t use this to make decisions about your own care — talk to your GP, pharmacist or treating team.
NDSS continuous glucose monitoring — eligibility, devices, copayments, GP role
Sources (checked 8 October 2026)
1. NDSS. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM products and how to access). ndss.com.au/products/continuous-glucose-monitoring — page modified 30 July 2026.
2. NDSS. Type 1 diabetes: aged 21 years and over.ndss.com.au/about-the-ndss/cgm-access — modified 24 September 2026.
3. NDSS. Type 1 diabetes: aged under 21 years.link — modified 30 June 2026. Other eligible conditions, age under 21.link — modified 24 September 2026.
4. NDSS. Type 1 diabetes: pregnancy planning, pregnancy or post-pregnancy.link — modified 30 June 2026.
5. NDSS. CGM device summary and compatibility chart (version 20, 1 July 2026). link Disclaimer: Information is from ndss.com.au on the date above. NDSS criteria, product lists and copayment amounts change — verify at ndss.com.au before counselling patients. NDSS pages do not publish copayment dollar amounts on the pages above, so none are quoted here. This site is independent of NDSS and Diabetes Australia.
NDSS checked 8 Oct 2026Tier 1 — verifiedCopayment amounts: ask NDSS / Access Point
Key fact: NDSS-subsidised CGM is available for Type 1 diabetes only. Type 2 diabetes — including patients on insulin — is not eligible. GPs cannot certify CGM access forms.
Select your patient's situation
✅ Eligible — Fully subsidised (no copayment)
Children and young people under 21 with type 1 diabetes can access fully subsidised CGM through the NDSS if all three apply: expected to benefit clinically from CGM, the person or family/carer is willing and capable of using it, and they commit to a diabetes management plan that includes CGM. Source: NDSS, T1D aged under 21 (30 June 2026).
Fully subsidised access continues at age 21 only with valid concessional status; otherwise a copayment starts.
Next steps
1 · Confirm NDSS registration2 · Refer to an authorised health professional to certify the CGM access form3 · Patient orders from an NDSS Access Point (usually a community pharmacy)
⚠️ NDSS: GPs and practice nurses are not authorised to certify CGM access forms. See the “GP role & pathway” tab for who can.
✅ Eligible — Fully subsidised (no copayment)
Adults aged 21 or older with type 1 diabetes keep fully subsidised CGM if they have valid concessional status. NDSS lists these as:
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Health Care Card (issued by Services Australia or DVA)
DVA Gold Card or DVA White Card
Identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
The Safety Net Concession Card and Safety Net Entitlement Card do not count. Source: NDSS, T1D aged 21 and over (24 September 2026).
Next steps
1 · Confirm NDSS registration2 · Refer to an authorised health professional to certify3 · Patient orders from an NDSS Access Point
⚠️ GPs and practice nurses cannot certify NDSS CGM access forms.
✅ Eligible — Fully subsidised while the pregnancy criteria apply
Women with type 1 diabetes can access fully subsidised CGM when the usual three criteria are met and one of these applies:
Planning pregnancy: actively planning and in regular contact with pre-conception care (ideally at least every 6–8 weeks). Access is for 6 months, with one possible 6-month extension — 12 months at most.
Pregnant or immediately post-pregnancy: confirmed pregnancy and regular engagement with a health professional. Access runs from confirmation of pregnancy until 3 months after the expected or actual date of birth.
After eligibility ends, fully subsidised access continues only with valid concessional status; otherwise a copayment starts. If a pregnancy ends in loss, current access continues unchanged and pregnancy-planning status can be re-applied for. Source: NDSS, T1D pregnancy page (30 June 2026).
Next steps
1 · Confirm NDSS registration2 · Refer to a diabetologist/endocrinologist, nurse practitioner or credentialled diabetes educator to certify3 · Planning-pregnancy extension uses the NDSS extension form
⚠️ For this group NDSS lists GPs, physicians and practice nurses as not authorised to certify. Obstetricians are not named on the NDSS page.
✅ Eligible — Copayment applies
All people with type 1 diabetes can apply for subsidised CGM through the NDSS. Without valid concessional status (or once concessional access ends), the person pays a copayment to the NDSS Access Point (usually a community pharmacy).
The NDSS eligibility pages do not state a dollar amount. Ask the Access Point or the NDSS Helpline (1800 637 700) for the current figure before quoting a cost. Annual product limits depend on each device’s manufacturer-advised lifespan and the products accessed in the past 12 months.
Next steps
1 · Confirm NDSS registration2 · Refer to an authorised health professional to certify3 · Patient orders from an NDSS Access Point (copayment applies)
⚠️ GPs and practice nurses cannot certify NDSS CGM access forms.
⚠️ Conditional — Condition must be on the NDSS list
Children and young people under 21 with certain other conditions can access fully subsidised CGM if they: have a condition listed in the NDSS table of eligible conditions, are insulin requiring, and meet the Category A (aged 10 or younger) or Category B (aged 11 to under 21) criteria.
NDSS publishes the list of conditions as a table on its page; check it there — it is not reproduced here. Fully subsidised access ends at age 21.
Who can certify (this group only)
Diabetologist/endocrinologist, paediatric endocrinologist, paediatrician or physician
⚠️ NDSS: GPs, credentialled diabetes educators, nurse practitioners and practice nurses are not authorised for this group. Source: NDSS, other eligible conditions (24 September 2026).
❌ Not eligible for NDSS CGM subsidy
The NDSS CGM subsidy covers type 1 diabetes, and selected conditions in people under 21. Type 2 diabetes is not eligible, including when treated with insulin.
What this means
CGM devices are not subsidised through the NDSS for this patient.
Any private purchase is a separate decision. Prices and approved uses vary by product and supplier — check the supplier and the TGA register (ARTG) for each device.
❌ Not eligible for NDSS CGM subsidy
People with type 2 diabetes managed without insulin are not eligible for subsidised CGM through the NDSS.
❌ Not eligible for NDSS CGM subsidy
Gestational diabetes is not listed as an NDSS CGM eligibility category. The pregnancy pathway applies only to women with type 1 diabetes who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or post-pregnancy.
Devices on the NDSS list — six listed as at the NDSS device summary (version 20, 1 July 2026). Eligibility for the subsidy is the same whichever device is chosen: type 1 diabetes, and selected conditions in people under 21. Choice of device is a decision for the patient and their diabetes team.
DisplayCompatible iOS/Android device, or Dexcom receiver (receiver not NDSS-subsidised)
Medtronic
Guardian System (4)
Sensor wear7 days
Transmitter lifespan12 months
Pump compatibilityNone listed (smartphone use)
DisplayCompatible iOS/Android device with Bluetooth; sharing needs cellular data or Wi-Fi
Medtronic
Guardian Link (4)
Sensor wear7 days
Transmitter lifespan12 months
Pump compatibilityMedtronic MiniMed 780G
DisplayCompatible device with Bluetooth; sharing needs cellular data or Wi-Fi
Abbott
FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus
Sensor wear15 days
Pump compatibilityOmnipod 5
DisplaySmartphone, or a free NDSS-registrant reader that shows readings only when scanned (not continuously)
Abbott
FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus
Sensor wear15 days
Pump compatibilitymylife Ypsopump only
Subsidised Omnipod products require an active registration with Insulet Australia as an Omnipod user. Simplera is not listed in the NDSS device summary. Copayment amounts are not published on the NDSS pages used here — ask the NDSS Access Point or the NDSS Helpline (1800 637 700). Full chart: NDSS CGM device summary and compatibility chart.
Devices not on the NDSS list
A CGM device that is not on the NDSS list is not subsidised through the NDSS, whatever the diabetes type. Approved uses, availability and prices vary by product and supplier, and are not covered on this page — check the supplier and the TGA register (ARTG) for each device.
Ordering and faulty devices (NDSS)
Order one month’s supply at a time; reorder about 14 days before running out.
For a faulty device, contact the supplier with the serial number rather than ordering a replacement through the NDSS (a replacement order uses up the annual limit).
To change or stop CGM, the person’s health professional submits the NDSS Update or Ceasing Access form.
GPs and practice nurses cannot certify NDSS CGM access forms. Who can certify depends on the patient group — see the table below. The GP role is to identify eligible patients, confirm NDSS registration and coordinate the referral.
GPs, credentialled diabetes educators, nurse practitioners, practice nurses
Source: NDSS CGM eligibility pages (modified 30 June – 24 September 2026). Check ndss.com.au before referring.
GP role — what you can and cannot do
Action
GP can do?
Identify eligible T1D patient not yet on CGM
✓ Yes
Discuss CGM options and NDSS program with patient
✓ Yes
Confirm NDSS registration (free — ndss.com.au)
✓ Yes
Refer patient to an authorised health professional for CGM access
✓ Yes
Certify NDSS CGM access form
✗ No
Certify access without an authorised health professional (T1D)
✗ No
Prescribe subsidised CGM for T2DM patients
✗ No (not currently eligible)
Access pathway — step by step
1
Confirm eligibility and NDSS registration
Patient must be registered with NDSS before ordering any subsidised products. Registration is free and immediate — ndss.com.au or phone 1800 637 700. Confirm Type 1 diabetes diagnosis is clearly documented.
2
Refer to an authorised health professional
Choose a certifier who is authorised for the patient’s group (table above) and actively involved in their diabetes care.
3
Authorised health professional certifies the access form
Either online through the NDSS Health Professional Portal (NDSS says access is usually confirmed within minutes), or by downloading the form, having it certified and submitting it by email, post or fax. NDSS then emails or mails the person instructions for obtaining their products.
4
Patient orders from an NDSS Access Point
Usually a community pharmacy. Order one month’s supply at a time; annual limits depend on the device’s lifespan and what has been accessed in the past 12 months. A copayment applies if the person does not have valid concessional status.
5
GP reviews CGM data at subsequent appointments
CGM data can be reviewed at follow-up visits. Management decisions remain between the patient and their treating team.