Apply for initial provider and prescriber numbers

Some health professionals can apply online for their initial Medicare provider or prescriber number.

You need a Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account to access Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). If you don’t have one, register for PRODA online. Then follow the steps to set up your HPOS access.

Find out how to apply for a provider or prescriber number if you’re a medical intern.

To apply for an initial Medicare provider number, log in to your PRODA account to access HPOS, then:

1. Select My Details.
2. Select My Digital Provider Number Registration.
3. Select Apply.
4. Complete the questions in the application and select submit.

If you’re an allied health professional not registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) you can also apply online. You must be registered with a respective board or organisation.

If you don’t have an identifier that is recognised by us, you’ll be able to link to HPOS without providing any identifiers.

Learn more about provider eligibility on the Health Professional Education website.

1. Go to the Location Details section in the Practice Address Tab.
2. Select yes to the question ‘Do you want a prescriber number for prescribing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines under the National Health Act 1953?’.

You can save your application and come back to it later if you need to.

If you’re applying for a prescriber number separately, you need to complete a paper form:

• Application for a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number for a medical practitioner form
• Application for a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number for a midwife or nurse practitioner form
• Application for a Medicare provider number and/or prescriber number for allied health and non-medical health professionals form.

If you’re not eligible to apply for a Medicare provider number or prescriber number online, you can use one of the following forms:

• Application for a Medicare provider number or prescriber number for a medical practitioner form
• Application for a Medicare provider number and, or prescriber number for allied health and non-medical health professionals form
• Application for a Medicare provider number and/or PBS prescriber number for a midwife or nurse practitioner form.

We experience a surge in applications between December and April.

To submit your manual application and prevent delays, make sure you:

• apply early
• enter your correct mailing address as we’re not always able to send a digital version
• complete all sections of your form and submit all required supporting documentation.

Incomplete applications will be returned to you through the mail and you’ll need to start the application process from the beginning.

We process applications in order of receipt to apply procedural fairness for all applicants.

Our service officers may need to process some applications, including applications for prescriber numbers.

If you’ve applied using HPOS, we’ll send you a HPOS message to let you know the outcome.

If you’ve applied using a paper form, we’ll send you a letter to let you know the outcome.