Who can register a patient for the CTG PBS Co-payment?

Any PBS prescriber, or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner registered with both Ahpra and Medicare, can register an eligible patient. A practitioner can also authorise an HPOS delegate (with their own PRODA account) to register on their behalf. Patients cannot register themselves.

Does CTG registration expire?

No. Registration in the national CTG PBS Co-payment register is a one-off, for-life process. It does not expire and is not tied to a single clinic — it follows the patient across GPs and pharmacies via their Medicare number.

What does the CTG PBS Co-payment cover and what does the patient pay?

From 1 July 2024 it applies to all PBS medicines (Section 85 and Section 100) dispensed by community pharmacies, approved medical practitioners and private hospitals. A registered patient who would normally pay the general PBS co-payment instead pays the concessional rate; a registered patient who would normally pay the concessional rate (e.g. a concession card holder) receives their PBS medicines free.

Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment — registering patients

A practical reference for GPs and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners: who's eligible, how to register a patient once, for life via HPOS, writing CTG scripts, and what the patient pays. For the patient-facing version, see our Closing the Gap explainer.

📋 Source: PBS Closing the Gap (CTG) Co-payment Program — pbs.gov.au / Services Australia.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

One-offFor-life registration; follows the patient across clinics & pharmacies

All PBS medsS85 & S100, since 1 July 2024

Patient paysGeneral → concessional ($7.70); concession card → free

Who registersPBS prescriber or Ahpra+Medicare ATSI Health Practitioner

Is this patient eligible?

A quick orientation against the program criteria. Eligibility rests on your clinical judgement — this is a guide, not a determination.

1. Does the patient identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?

2. In your clinical opinion, would they have setbacks preventing or managing a chronic condition (or risk of one) without their PBS medicine, and be unlikely to adhere without help with cost?

Source: PBS — Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program factsheet (pbs.gov.au); National Health (Closing the Gap—PBS Co-payment Program) Special Arrangement 2026.

Register via HPOS — step checklist

Registration is a one-off process in the national register. Tick as you go.

Confirm the patient identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

Self-identification; no proof of Indigenity is required

Confirm clinical eligibility

Living with, or at risk of, chronic disease; setbacks without the medicine; unlikely to adhere without cost help — your clinical judgement

Discuss the program and obtain the patient's consent to register

Patients can't self-register; consent is required to search and register them

A delegate with their own PRODA account can act on your behalf

Select My programs → Closing the Gap PBS Co-Payment register

Search the patient by name or Medicare card details

If status shows Inactive, select Register

An Active status means they're already registered — no action needed

Annotate eligible scripts “CTG”

Registration status is verified in real time at dispensing

0 of 7 steps ticked

Source: Services Australia — Closing the Gap PBS co-payment for prescribers / for health professionals; PBS CTG Co-payment Program factsheet.

Writing CTG scripts & coverage

Annotate the prescription “CTG”. The PBS Online claiming system verifies the patient's registration status in real time at dispensing.
Coverage applies to all PBS medicines (S85 and S100) from 1 July 2024 — at community pharmacies, approved medical practitioners, and private hospitals.
The reduction is not the same as the under-co-payment $0.60 discount — it is the program's concessional/free benefit applied to registered patients.
It does not cover items that aren't PBS-listed (private scripts, most OTC items).

Source: PBS CTG Co-payment Program factsheet; Services Australia — discounting patient co-payment guidance.

Checking status, changes & contacts

Check status: any clinician with HPOS access, or a pharmacist via dispensing software, can confirm whether a patient is registered.
Remote / limited internet: a health service can phone Services Australia on 132 290 to register a patient.
Withdrawal: a registering practitioner can't withdraw a patient except to correct an administrative error.

Source: Services Australia — Closing the Gap PBS co-payment for health professionals; PBS factsheet. Verify current process at servicesaustralia.gov.au and pbs.gov.au.

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Patient explainer: Closing the Gap

Plain-English version to share with patients.

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715 Health Check Billing

Item 715 billing, documentation & follow-on items.

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715 Health Check (patient)

Free annual health check — patient guide.

Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment — registering patients

Is this patient eligible?

Register via HPOS — step checklist

Writing CTG scripts & coverage

Checking status, changes & contacts

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