Access to Medicare and pharmaceutical benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Medicare arrangements

For individuals

The Indigenous Access Program provides access to Medicare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program provides:

an Indigenous access phone line with culturally trained staff who can match people with the right Medicare services
Medicare liaison officers who work with communities and health services around Australia
a free annual health check (also called a 715 check) every 9 to 12 months
Closing the Gap pharmaceutical benefits.

For health services

The Minister for Health issued a special direction allowing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) to access Medicare billing. See our list of ACCHSs with 19(2) and 19(5) directions.

Usually, health services cannot access Medicare benefits when the Australian Government provides other funding for the services. As ACCHSs receive Government funding through the Indigenous Australians' Health Programme (IAHP), they would not normally be eligible to bill Medicare for their services. The Minister allowed access to Medicare billing because:

all Australians have a right to access Medicare
the cost of providing comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities is substantially higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.

See our list of MBS items for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and other primary health care providers.

Services Australia provides a guide to Medicare for Indigenous health services.

Map of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical services

Use this interactive map to find an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health Service near you.

Medicare liaison officers

Medicare liaison officers undertake cultural training. They work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and health services to:

provide information about MBS items available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients
provide training to health service staff about Indigenous health care plans
increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's enrolments in Medicare
ensure correct claiming of Medicare benefits
provide support and advice about new Medicare initiatives
represent and promote Medicare programs and services at local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander forums and events.

Services Australia have more information about Medicare liaison officers.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme arrangements

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) includes items listed to treat conditions common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These items are specifically for patients who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

The PBS lists these items to:

address the greater burden of disease experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
provide greater choice in treatment options, particularly for conditions seen almost exclusively in this population.

PBS Closing the Gap co-payment

The Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment Program aims to reduce the cost of PBS medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a chronic disease (or at risk of a chronic disease). Registered patients receive PBS medicines for free (with a Health Care Card) or at a lower price.

Services Australia has more information:

for health professionals, including an education guide
for patients.

ACCHSs with 19(2) and 19(5) directions

Click on a column heading to sort, or start typing in the search box to find the information you need. Swipe left or right to see more of the table if you're on a mobile device.

State/territory	Organisation name
ACT	Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
NSW	Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative Limited
NSW	Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service
NSW	Armajun Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
NSW	Awabakal Limited
NSW	Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre
NSW	Bourke Aboriginal Health Service
NSW	Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service
NSW	Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
NSW	Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
NSW	Cummeragunja Housing and Development Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service
NSW	Galambila Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
NSW	Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service Incorporated
NSW	Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Katungul Aboriginal Corporation Community and Medical Services
NSW	Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Orange Aboriginal Medical Service Incorporated
NSW	Pius X Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation (Waminda)
NSW	Tamworth Aboriginal Health Service
NSW	Tharawal Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Limited
NSW	Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service
NSW	Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative Limited
NSW	Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation Incorporated
NSW	Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service
NSW	Werin Aboriginal Corporation
NSW	Yerin Aboriginal Health Services Inc (Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre)
NT	Ampilatwatja Health Centre Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Bagot Community Health Centre
NT	Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Danila Dilba Health Services
NT	Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Mala’la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Marthakal Homeland and Resource Centre Association
NT	Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Ngaanyatjarra Health Services
NT	Nganampa Health Council Incorporated
NT	Pintupi Homelands Health Service
NT	Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
NT	Wurli-Wurlinjang Aboriginal Corporation
Qld	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Limited
Qld	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay Limited
Qld	Apunipima Cape York Health Council Limited
Qld	Bidgerdii Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service
Qld	Carbal Medical Services
Qld	Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited
Qld	Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service
Qld	Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health
Qld	Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare Services Limited
Qld	Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation
Qld	Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Corporation
Qld	Goondir Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Service
Qld	Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation
Qld	Indigenous Wellbeing Centre Limited
Qld	Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Limited
Qld	Kalwun Health Service
Qld	Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health
Qld	Mamu Health Service Limited
Qld	Mookai Rosie-Bi-Bayan (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation)
Qld	Mount Isa Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Limited (Gidgee Healing)
Qld	Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service
Qld	Nhulundu Wooribah Indigenous Health Organisation Incorporated
Qld	North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
Qld	NPA Family and Community Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation
Qld	Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Services
Qld	Wuchopperen Health Service Limited
Qld	Yulu-Burri Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
SA	Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation
SA	Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Incorporated
SA	Nunkuwarrin Yunti Incorporated
SA	Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
SA	Oak Valley (Maralinga) Incorporated
SA	Pangula Mannamurna Incorporated
SA	Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Incorporated
SA	Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated
SA	Tullawon Health Service Incorporated
SA	Umoona Tjutjagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
Tas	Flinders Island Aboriginal Association Incorporated
Tas	South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation
Tas	Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Incorporated
Vic	Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Budja-Budja Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Dandenong and District Aborigines Cooperative Ltd -Bunurong Health Services
Vic	Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service Incorporated
Vic	First Peoples Health and Wellbeing
Vic	Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative Limited
Vic	Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Kirrae Health Service Incorporated
Vic	Lake Tyers Health and Children’s Services Association
Vic	Mallee District Aboriginal Services Limited
Vic	Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Incorporated
Vic	Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Njernda Aboriginal Corporation
Vic	Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation
Vic	Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited
Vic	Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Co-operative
Vic	Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative
Vic	Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Bega Garnbirringu Health Services Incorporated
WA	Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service
WA	Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Derby Aboriginal Health Service Council Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service
WA	Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council Incorporated
WA	Mawarnkarra Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Controlled Health and Medical Services
WA	Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	South-West Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Wirraka Maya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
WA	Yura Yungi Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation

Date last updated:

7 October 2021

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