What is Closing the Gap (CTG) 

Australia’s Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program is a vital initiative that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access essential medicines at reduced or no cost. For pharmacy staff, understanding how to support eligible patients is not only a professional responsibility but also a chance to make a significant impact on health equity.

In this blog, we’ll give you a glimpse into the CTG program’s benefits and how you can ensure eligible patients receive the care they deserve. To gain the full picture and actionable knowledge, sign up for the lrnrx Closing the Gap course today.

What is the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program?

The Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program reduces or removes the co-payment for PBS medicines for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. The goal is simple: make vital medicines affordable and accessible, ensuring no one is left behind when it comes to managing health conditions.

Eligible patients can access all PBS medicines, including those approved for 60-day prescriptions. As of 1 January 2025, the program will expand to include medicines dispensed by public hospitals.

While these benefits are significant, the program can only work when pharmacy staff understand how to dispense CTG prescriptions correctly and provide accurate support.

Your Role as Pharmacy Staff

Pharmacists and pharmacy assistants play a critical role in bridging healthcare gaps. Supporting patients through the CTG program ensures they:

• Receive essential medicines at the correct reduced cost
• Improve medication adherence to manage chronic or acute conditions
• Reduce barriers to ongoing treatment

However, many pharmacy professionals may not know the full process for verifying eligibility, dispensing CTG prescriptions, or guiding patients who need help accessing the program. This is where tailored education becomes essential.

Eligibility and Registration for CTG

Supporting the CTG program starts with understanding who is eligible and how patients are registered. Here’s a quick overview:

1. Eligibility Criteria:

• Patients must self-identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• They are enrolled with Medicare.
• A prescriber assesses that cost barriers may hinder their treatment or condition management.

2.    Registration Process:

• Only a PBS prescriber or an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner registered with AHPRA and Medicare can register a patient.
• Registration happens through Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) and remains valid, even if patients change health clinics.

The key takeaway? Pharmacy staff must verify registration before dispensing a prescription and guide patients to their prescribers if they need to register.

To dive deeper into each step and confidently navigate the CTG process, LRNRX offers a dedicated course tailored for Australian pharmacy professionals.

What You’ll Learn:

• The purpose and importance of the CTG PBS Co-payment Program

• How to verify patient eligibility and navigate the HPOS system

• Step-by-step processes for dispensing and claiming CTG prescriptions

• Practical strategies for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with empathy and professionalism

Why This Matters

Every pharmacy professional has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. By understanding and applying the Closing the Gap PBS program, you can help reduce healthcare barriers and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These small, everyday actions contribute to the broader goal of health equity.

Enrol now for the lrnrx Closing the Gap course and make a difference where it matters most.