Pharmacists

Dispense and claim a Closing the Gap (CTG) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription.

Learn how to dispense and claim a Closing the Gap (CTG) prescription.

Check CTG prescription dispenser requirements

Most, but not all, pharmacies can dispense CTG prescriptions.

They can if they are any of the following:

  • an approved community pharmacy
  • an approved supplier
  • an approved private hospital pharmacy.

Read more about how to become an approved PBS supplier.

Public hospital pharmacies can’t dispense CTG prescriptions. However, public hospital prescribers can write them for approved pharmacies to dispense.

Dispense CTG prescriptions

There are 3 steps to correctly dispense a CTG prescription.

Step 1. Check your patient is registered

You’ll know you’re dealing with a CTG prescription if any of the following apply:

  • the prescriber has written ‘CTG’ on it, though they aren’t legally required to
  • your patient tells you
  • we’ve rejected your PBS online claim because your patient is registered and you haven’t populated the CTG field.

You can’t dispense the prescription at the CTG price unless your patient is registered with us. You can check they’re registered in real time either through:

Patients can’t get a refund if they register after they’ve paid for their medicine.

You can’t register patients. Refer them back to their prescriber if they need to be registered. They can also ask an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner who is registered with both the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and us.

They don’t need a new prescription. CTG claims are based on the date of dispense, not the date of the prescription.

Step 2. Charge the correct price

CTG prices apply to Section 85 and Section 100 (National Health Act 1953) PBS medicines.

Your PDS should charge the correct price when you claim through it.

Generally, you should charge the current concessional price for the PBS item. But, if your patient has a valid concession or health care card, they don’t need to make a patient co-payment.

All patients must still pay compulsory charges such as brand premiums. But you can’t charge CTG patients the allowable additional patient charge.

Read more about PBS fees.

If your patient’s concession card isn’t valid, read about helping when you can’t charge the PBS concessional rate.

Step 3. Add the right amount to your patient’s PBS Safety Net record

Add the amount you would have added for a non-CTG prescription. Your PDS should automatically calculate the right amount.

Read more about the PBS Safety Net for pharmacists.

To learn more about CTG, complete the CTG module on the Health Professional Education Resources (HPE) website.

Page last updated: 6 November 2024.
QC 74190