What is the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS)?

The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) is an Australian Government initiative that offers eligible people a wide range of medicines and wound care items at a concessional rate.

Who is eligible for the RPBS?

You may get prescribed medicines and wound care items at a concessional rate through the RPBS if you have an assessed clinical need for the item and hold a:

• Veteran Gold Card
• Veteran White Card (and the prescription is for a condition covered by your Veteran White Card) or
• Veteran Orange Card.

What you will receive under the RPBS

You will receive medicines and wound care items at a concessional rate if they are available through the RPBS, you have a prescription from your health provider and you have an assessed clinical need.

How much will you pay?

When you get prescribed medicines or wound care items at the concession rate, you make a co-payment of $7.70.

A co-payment is the contribution you make to get medicines and wound care items at the concession rate. Your pharmacist may also offer a discount of up to $1.00 on your $7.70 co-payment for each prescription.

If there is more than one brand of medicines with the same active ingredients, the $7.70 co-payment covers the lowest priced brand.

If you or your health provider wants a more expensive brand, you need to pay the difference.

How to claim under the RPBS

Let your doctor or other health provider know you hold a Gold, White or Orange card.

Your doctor or other health provider know that you may need to get approval from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs before prescribing you some items on the PBS. 

They need to get approval from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs before prescribing medicines not listed on either schedule.

When you present your White, Gold or Orange card and your RPBS prescription to a pharmacy, the concession rate of $7.70 applies.