Medicinal cannabis information for providers

Medicinal cannabis is funded by DVA in line with our Medicinal Cannabis Framework (the Framework) as described on this page.  This page also outlines the process for providers to apply for approval of prescriptions for DVA clients, enabling them to obtain medicinal cannabis from their preferred pharmacy at a concessional rate.

If you’re a member of the veteran community, go to Medicinal cannabis for veterans.

Who we can fund

When a doctor asks us for approval to fund medicinal cannabis, we consider the information they provide for each application on a case-by-case basis.

Funding is available through the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) if:

• the individual holds a Veteran Card that covers treatment for the relevant condition, and
• the evidence-based standard treatments have been undertaken for the relevant health condition and have not been effective.

Only Veteran Gold and Orange Card holders are eligible for RPBS prescriptions for all conditions. If the client holds a Veteran White Card, the prescription must relate to an accepted condition, as per the approved conditions listed below.

How the application process works

There is a tiered process for applying for RPBS funded medicinal cannabis:

• If the request meets all criteria for Tier 1 the client’s treating medical practitioner can apply over the phone.
• All other requests fit into Tier 2 and need to be submitted via the Form D9546 - Medicinal Cannabis Tier 2 Application, and accompanied by a written assessment from a relevant treating non-GP specialist, confirming that medicinal cannabis would clinically benefit the patient for the nominated health condition.

Medicinal Cannabis Framework 2-tier classification

Use this table to help you identify the appropriate Tier for submitting your client’s application.

If any criteria are met in both Tier 1 and Tier 2, then the request is Tier 2.

Health conditions

Under the Framework, DVA will only consider funding medicinal cannabis for the following health conditions:

• chronic pain
• chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• palliative care indications
• anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness such as cancer
• spasticity from neurological conditions, and/or
• refractory paediatric epilepsy.

Products/dosage

Under the Framework, DVA will only fund products that exclusively have Cannabidiol (CBD) and/or THC as the labelled active ingredient. DVA does not fund products with other cannabinoids as labelled active ingredients.

For eligible DVA clients who are not covered by the grandfathered arrangements (outlined further below) from 16 February 2026 DVA will only fund:

• oral medicinal cannabis in the forms of capsules and liquid preparations but not other oral formulations including edibles like pastilles or gummies
• dried herb medicinal cannabis for vaporisation through a TGA-approved medical device
• dried herb medicinal cannabis products with a THC concentration of 25% or less
• total dried herb medicinal cannabis for vaporisation of 2g per day or less across all products, and
• up to a maximum of 3 products prescribed per client in Tier 2.

Grandfathered arrangements

DVA clients who received a DVA funded medicinal cannabis prescription that was dispensed between 16 February 2025 and 15 February 2026 are covered under grandfathered arrangements.

Grandfathered clients have until 31 August 2026 to work with their doctors to make any necessary changes to keep accessing DVA funded medical cannabis products in line with the ‘Products/dosage’ section outlined above. 

From 1 September 2026, DVA will only fund medical cannabis products in line with the ‘Products/Dosage’ section from appropriately qualified specialists for all eligible DVA clients.

What we require for all applications

We can only consider funding medicinal cannabis once we are satisfied that all the following conditions have been met:

• the DVA client has an existing DVA treatment entitlement for a health condition listed above
• the amount of cannabis administered is determined by clinical need and outlined to DVA
• the amount and composition of cannabis is within DVA funding limits
• prescription and treatment are consistent with Australian peak professional bodies’ clinical protocols and guidelines when issued or updated, as accepted by DVA, and
• the DVA client has tried evidence-based standard treatments for the relevant condition (if appropriate), and those treatments have not been effective.

The treating medical practitioner needs to confirm the following:

• they have specialist registration with Ahpra
• assessment and prescription have occurred in accordance with Ahpra’s guidance for medicinal cannabis prescribing;
• medicinal cannabis is clinically indicated, and treatment may benefit the eligible DVA client (for new requests)
• medicinal cannabis is clinically indicated, and treatment has shown related clinical benefit to the eligible DVA client (for repeat requests)
• there has been an initial in-person consultation between the veteran and the prescriber for a first-time prescription, when changing to a new prescriber, or for any changes to a prescription that would result in an increase from Tier 1 to Tier 2. Travel for treatment may be available to assist veterans with attending in-person appointments
• all relevant State or Territory and Commonwealth approvals, including Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) authorisations for the prescription have been obtained
• a mental health assessment has been completed in relation to medicinal cannabis, and there is no increased risk from medicinal cannabis on suicidal ideation or mental health
• the eligible DVA client has no current substance use disorder and has low risk for substance use disorder, and
• there is active monitoring for signs of cannabis use disorder, and if concern develops, there is an appropriate management plan in place including possible de-prescribing.

If the request is categorised as Tier 2, the following supportive information must be provided:

• written support for the request from the eligible DVA client’s treating non-GP specialist, where the speciality type must have direct relevance to the condition being treated needs to outline:
  • the medical condition/s being treated
  • their active support for a trial of medicinal cannabis as part of the treatment protocol, and
  • any previous treatment strategies which led to their recommendation.

When we can't approve funding

We will not consider funding for medicinal cannabis if any of the following apply:

• it is being used for the treatment of conditions not set out in the Framework (listed under ‘health conditions’ section above), including treatment for a mental health condition
• the client does not have a Veteran Card or an accepted condition that covers the treatment
• the application falls under Tier 2, and the relevant treating non-GP specialist has not provided a written assessment supporting the prescription of medicinal cannabis
• the concentration, dose or formulation of the product is outside the product and dosage funding limits as set out in the Framework (listed in the ‘Products/dosage’ section above) and/or the grandfathered arrangements do not apply or have expired
• the product formulation is:
  • an oral form other than capsules or liquid (e.g. pastilles, gummies)
  • a liquid for vaporisation/e-cigarette, delivered via a non-TGA approved device (e.g. pressurised inhaler)
  • a cannabis concentrate (e.g. hash)
  • externally applied products (e.g. cream, ointment, patch)
  • any other emerging formulation at DVA’s discretion, and
• the products include cannabinoids other than THC or CBD, labelled as an active ingredient.

How to apply through Tier 1

Once you have assessed that the treatment you are requesting for your DVA client meets all Tier 1 criteria, you can apply for prior approval of an RPBS Authority prescription by either:

• Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) form upload — Use the D9545 - RPBS Medicinal Cannabis Tier 1 and 2 Authority Prescription Request form to submit your request via the secure form upload function in HPOS; or
• Telephone — For authority approvals when you are with the patient, phone our Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC) on 1800 552 580 between 9am and 5pm AEST. 

When you call, you’ll need to provide the following product details:

• brand and generic composition
• strength/ratio and formulation type
• TGA category
• pack size
• current daily dose
• quantity of packs required for up to one month supply
• quantity of repeats for Schedule 4 (TGA Category 1) products.

See What we require for all applications for what we will ask you.

If we approve the request, we will help you arrange an authority prescription.

Any pharmacy that can dispense RPBS items at the concession rate can supply the prescribed medicinal cannabis products.

The client will need to pay the pharmacy the concessional co-payment of $7.70 each time the prescription is dispensed, unless they’ve reached the concessional safety net. More information on co-payments can be found at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s PBS co-payments webpage.

How to apply through Tier 2

Tier 2 applications need to be in writing and accompanied by a written assessment from a relevant treating non-GP specialist, confirming that medicinal cannabis would clinically benefit the patient for the nominated health condition.

Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) form upload — Use the D9546 - RPBS Medicinal Cannabis Tier 2 Application form to submit your request via the secure form upload function in HPOS

We’ll let you know if we approve the Tier 2 application request, and you can then contact us to arrange an authority prescription via the Tier 1 process.

Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

DVA only funds medicinal cannabis under the RPBS and it must be supplied by a pharmacy that can dispense RPBS items, via an approved Authority prescription.

Reimbursement of any expense privately incurred for consultations or products without an authority approval are subject to the same clinical guidelines set out in the Framework (as outlined above).

Prescribers must seek an RPBS Authority prescription approval for any medicinal cannabis.

DVA will only consider reimbursing eligible clients for the purchase of TGA-approved medicinal cannabis vaporisers when they are:

• used solely for the administration of dried herb medicinal cannabis,
• purchased within 3 months of medicinal cannabis being dispensed through the RPBS, and
• supplied via a pharmacy. 

The current list of vaporisers approved by the TGA can be found on the TGA website.

Clients need to seek reimbursement by submitting a D1181 - Application for Reimbursement of Medical Expenses with their receipt to pharmacy.reimbursement@dva.gov.au.

Clients also seeking reimbursement of medicinal cannabis product that has not been provided through an RPBS Authority prescription must include a completed D9546 - RPBS Medicinal Cannabis Tier 2 Application that outlines the clinical rationale for funding (even if the request meets the criteria for a Tier 1 streamlined application).

Reimbursement is not guaranteed. DVA does not provide reimbursement as an avenue for ongoing funding of treatment. We will not reimburse for repeat visits to health providers who do not accept Veteran Cards. Please ensure funding requests for treatment are aligned with DVA policy and Schedules.

For more information on reimbursements, please visit Medical Expenses Privately Incurred (MEPI).

Contact us

To contact us about funding for medicinal cannabis products you can:

• phone the VAPAC team on 1800 552 580
• email ppo@dva.gov.au

Feedback

Your feedback helps us deliver quality service to veterans and families. Read more about complaints, compliments and other feedback.

Other health bodies can also benefit from your input. To give feedback about:

• medicine quality or safety — contact the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• health professionals — contact Ahpra.

Privacy notice

Personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. Personal information may be collected by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) for the delivery of government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police and their dependents.

You can access our Privacy Collection Notice for details on how we collect and manage personal information, including health information, in relation to medicinal cannabis funding applications.

Our privacy collection notice regarding health information provides further information about the purposes for which we collect health information and how we use, disclose and protect it for a variety of DVA programs and services.