on this page
Patients can still get Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines by taking a prescription to an approved pharmacy under standard PBS arrangements.
The Department of Health and Aged Care approves Aboriginal Health Service (AHS) participation. For more information, contact the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Once you’re approved, we’ll give you a registration number. Use this on all correspondence, including requests for pharmaceutical supplies.
Medicines not available under AHS arrangements
All medicines contained in Section 2 of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits are available under these arrangements, except:
- extemporaneously prepared items
- highly specialised drugs
- emergency drug (prescriber bag) supplies
- repatriation PBS medicines
- Schedule 8 medicines as defined by the drugs and poisons legislation in the relevant state or territory.
You must prescribe Schedule 8 or extemporaneously prepared medicine on an approved prescription form and dispense under standard PBS arrangements.
For a detailed list of PBS medicines, go to the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website.
RAAHS patient specific medicine supply fee (PSMSF)
We’ll pay eligible pharmacies the RAAHS PSMSF. This fee is for each PBS medicine ordered on a RAAHS prescription and labelled for an individual patient for supply through an approved AHS. This is in addition to the handling fee paid to eligible pharmacies for the supply of bulk PBS medicines to an approved AHS.
The RAAHS PSMSF is $5.37 for each PBS medicine labelled for an individual patient for supply through an approved AHS.
Payments to approved suppliers
Claims are paid by electronic funds transfer. To register or update your bank account details for RAAHS payments, complete the Notification of bank account details for Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services program payments form (PB019).
More information
For more information about eligibility criteria and approval of AHS, contact the Department of Health and Aged Care.
For more information about claiming and the supply of PBS medicines, contact us.