New laws give RNs the power to prescribe PBS medicines

Registered nurses will be able to prescribe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines for the first time after parliament passed landmark legislation expanding the profession’s scope of practice.

The Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2025, passed on July 2, amends the National Health Act 1953, allowing endorsed designated registered nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS-subsidised medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the legislation represented a significant milestone for both the profession and patients.

“Today is a great day for the nursing profession and equitable access to medicines,” he said.

“Expanding the scope of practice for suitably qualified nurses will make it much easier for people in many rural and remote communities to get the medicines they need.”

The reform, which is expected to be operational from 1 October 2026 following updates to PBS administrative systems, follows years of advocacy from the nursing profession and recommendations from the Federal Government’s Scope of Practice Review.

“This reform creates greater opportunities for nurses to contribute to multidisciplinary team-based care improving access to care for all Australians,” Minister Butler said.

“As the most trusted health professional group, designated Registered Nurse prescribers will improve choice and access for vulnerable people.”

The first nurses have already been endorsed under the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s designated registered nurse prescriber registration standard, with further graduates expected this month.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) welcomed the legislation, saying it would remove a longstanding barrier preventing highly qualified nurses from working to their full scope of practice.

“This is a historic step forward for RNs and their patients,” ANMF federal secretary Annie Butler said.

“Allowing endorsed RN prescribers to work to their full scope of practice and prescribe medicines under the PBS removes another outdated barrier, which will now ensure people can access medicines without the need to see a doctor.

“This recognises the experience, skills and expertise of highly-qualified RNs and will allow people to benefit from a more timely, flexible prescribing pathway and we thank MPs and Senators for their support for the Legislation.”

The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) also described the legislation as one of the most significant developments for the profession in decades.

“This is a major milestone,” ACN chief Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz said.

“The parliament has backed nurses to work to their full scope of practice. In doing so, it’s backed every Australian who relies on timely access to the medicines they need.

“We thank the parliamentarians who recognised the value nurses bring and voted to make this reform a reality.”

The legislation means patients will pay the same PBS-subsidised price for medicines prescribed by designated registered nurse prescribers as they do for medicines prescribed by a doctor.

The ACN said the benefits could extend to aged care residents, First Nations communities, palliative care patients and people seeking sexual and reproductive health services.

However, the college warned that important implementation issues remain unresolved. These include funding mechanisms for nurse prescribing in aged care and primary care settings, clarity about which medicines nurse prescribers will be authorised to prescribe under the PBS, and access to pathology services needed to support safe prescribing.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee is currently considering which medicines will be available for prescribing by designated registered nurse prescribers.

Professor Zeitz said the profession would continue working with government to ensure the reform delivers on its promise.

“Nurses have been asking for this reform for over a decade. The evidence shows nurse prescribing improves patient outcomes, increases satisfaction with care, and reduces the burden on our hospitals and GPs,” she said.

“We need to keep working to make sure that evidence drives health care delivery models for communities right across Australia.”