Changes to HIV treatment access for Medicare ineligible people in Australia

The Australian Capital Territory transitioned on 30 June 2023.

The service remains private and confidential. Your HIV medication will continue to be free when you collect it from a hospital pharmacy. You will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

The changes mean that:

• Prescriptions must continue to be written by a doctor who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications (an s100 prescriber). If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is.
• Treatment can be collected from the Canberra Hospital pharmacy. If you currently collect your medication from a local pharmacy, your doctor will support you if you need to switch to the Canberra Hospital pharmacy.

Questions?

Your doctor, pharmacist or the Canberra Sexual Health Centre on (02) 5124 2184 can answer your questions. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

New South Wales transitioned on 18 April 2023.

The service remains private and confidential and provided by NSW Health. Your HIV medication will continue to be free when you collect it from a NSW public hospital pharmacy. You will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

The changes mean that:

• Prescriptions must continue to be written by a doctor who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications (an s100 prescriber). If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is.
• Treatment can be collected from any public hospital pharmacy. If you currently collect your medication from a local pharmacy, your doctor will support you if you need to switch to a hospital pharmacy.
• You are strongly encouraged to return to the same hospital pharmacy to collect your treatment.
• If you cannot travel to a hospital pharmacy, your medication may be able to be delivered to a pharmacy near you. Please speak to your doctor about this service.

Questions?

Your doctor, pharmacist and staff at any sexual health clinic can answer your questions. Or call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

You can also speak in confidence with the peer navigation staff at Positive Life NSW on (02) 8357 8386 or NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Find your nearest:

• NSW Public Hospital Parking, Services and Directions
• s100 prescriber location maps and details
  
• NSW Sexual Health Clinics
  

The Northern Territory transitioned on 3 March 2023.

The service remains private and confidential. Your HIV medication will continue to be free when you collect it from a hospital pharmacy or Clinic 34. You will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

The changes mean that:

• Prescriptions must be written by a doctor who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications (an s100 prescriber). If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is.
• Treatment can be collected from Clinic 34 or any hospital pharmacy. If you currently collect your medication from a local pharmacy, your doctor will let you know if you need to switch to a hospital pharmacy or Clinic 34.
• If you cannot travel to Clinic 34 or a hospital pharmacy, your medication can be delivered to a pharmacy near you. Please speak to your doctor to arrange this delivery service.

Questions?

Your doctor, pharmacist and the staff at Clinic 34 can answer your questions. Find your local Clinic 34. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Queensland transitioned on 1 July 2023. 

Accessing your HIV treatment and care in Queensland continues to remain private and confidential. Unless you are seeing a private clinician, you do not need to change the clinician who is managing your HIV, and you will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

• Access to HIV medication for people who are not eligible for Medicare will be centrally coordinated and dispensed through hospital pharmacies.
• As of 3 October 2023, co-payments for HIV medication for all people with HIV in Queensland will be waived.
• Prescriptions must be written by a Queensland Health physician who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications.
• Treatment must be collected from a Queensland Health hospital pharmacy.

This program does not include HIV pre–or post–exposure prophylaxis (PrEP or PEP).

Questions?

Your HIV doctor and hospital pharmacist can answer your questions. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Find your nearest sexual health and HIV service in Queensland at Find your nearest sexual health and HIV services in Queensland

South Australia transitioned on 30 March 2023.

HIV care remains private and confidential. Treatment will continue to be free when you pick it up from a hospital pharmacy. You do not need to change the clinician who is managing your HIV, and you will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

The changes mean that:

• Access to HIV medication for people who are not eligible for Medicare will be centrally coordinated and dispensed through hospital pharmacies.
• Your treating clinician will be able to arrange access to HIV medication for you. If you currently collect your HIV medication from a local pharmacy, your treating clinician will support your switch to a hospital pharmacy.
• If you cannot travel to a hospital pharmacy, it may be possible to arrange delivery of your HIV medication to a pharmacy near you. Please speak to your treating clinician about this service.

This program does not include HIV pre-or post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP or PEP).

Questions?

Your treating clinician and pharmacist can answer your questions. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Tasmania transitioned on 8 May 2023.

HIV care remains private and confidential. HIV medication will be available free of charge when collected through government funded hospital pharmacies. HIV treatment is prescribed by Sexual Health Service Tasmania clinics (Clinic 23, 34 or 60) and accredited s100 prescribers in primary care.

The changes mean that:

• Prescriptions must be written by a doctor who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications (an s100 prescriber). If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is.
• A copayment may be charged at the discretion of the hospital.
• Sexual Health Service Tasmania can prescribe HIV medications.
• Treatment must be collected from a government funded hospital pharmacy. If collection from a hospital pharmacy is difficult because of distance or other factors, you can discuss other access options with Sexual Health Services Tasmania.

Questions?

Sexual Health Services (Clinic 23, 34 or 60) can answer all your questions. Access their locations and contact information. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Victoria transitioned on 1 July 2023.

The service remains private and confidential. You will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

The changes mean that:

• Prescriptions must continue to be written by a doctor who is authorised to prescribe HIV medications (an s100 prescriber). If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is.
• Treatment can be collected from any public hospital pharmacy. If you currently collect your medication from a community pharmacy, your doctor will let you know if you need to switch.
• A copayment may be charged at the discretion of the hospital.
• If you cannot travel to a hospital pharmacy, your medication may be able to be delivered to a pharmacy near you. Please speak to your prescribing clinician or hospital pharmacy to discuss your options.

Find your nearest Public hospitals in Victoria.

Questions?

Your doctor or pharmacist can answer your questions or you can email VICHIVTP@health.vic.gov.au. You can also contact NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.

Western Australia has transitioned. 

There should be no change in access to your medications. The service remains private and confidential. Your HIV medication will continue to be free when you collect it from a hospital outpatient pharmacy or through arrangements made with your doctor or clinic (courier fees may apply as per your hospital’s policies). You will not experience any break or delay in receiving your HIV medication.

This means that:

• Prescriptions must still be written by a hospital prescriber/sexual health clinic prescriber. If your current doctor is not one of these, they will refer you to one who is. ­
• Treatment must still be collected from your hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. If you currently collect your medication from a different location, your doctor will let you know if you need to switch.
• If you live regionally and cannot travel to an outpatient clinic, your medication will continue to be delivered to your home or made available for local pick up as previously arranged by your clinic.

Questions?

Your doctor, hospital pharmacy department and the HIV Information Line (call (08) 9482 0044 or visit waac.com.au) can answer your questions.

You can also reach out to NAPWHA on 1800 259 666.