Frequently asked questions for consumers
Key points
- From 1 September 2025, if you’re aged 6 years or older with an ADHD diagnosis and stable on medication, your GP may be able to provide repeat prescriptions if they are an authorised continuation prescriber.
- You must have an initial diagnosis of ADHD from a specialist such as a psychiatrist or paediatrician and be stable on medication before your GP can take over ongoing prescriptions.
- You can discuss these changes with your regular GP.
What do the new processes mean for people already diagnosed with ADHD?
To access the new arrangements:
- you will need to have a regular GP or GP practice
- your GP will need to be an authorised ‘continuation prescriber’
- you must have an initial assessment and diagnosis of ADHD
- you must be stable on medication before your GP can take over the ongoing prescription of medicines
- you must be aged 6 years and older.
A ‘continuation prescriber’ refers to a GP who has the authority to prescribe psychostimulant medicines to eligible people.
It is important that you also have an in-person review every 6 months with your GP or non-GP specialist who is prescribing your medicines.
How is ADHD treated?
Multiple forms of treatment are recommended for ADHD in children and adults. A combination of psychological therapies and medication is likely to work better than either alone.
What ADHD medicines are covered under these new processes?
There are different types of medicines used in the treatment of ADHD. Some of these medicines are called psychostimulant medicines and are subject to strict prescribing controls.
GPs who are authorised continuation prescribers will be able to prescribe all medications used to treat ADHD, including psychostimulant medicines.
Psychostimulant medicines include:
- Dexamfetamine, e.g. Aspen dexamfetamine®
- Lisdexamfetamine, e.g. Vyvanse®
- Methylphenidate, e.g. Artige®, Ritalin®, Ritalin LA®, Rubifen LA®, Concerta SR®
There are other non-stimulant medications used in the treatment of ADHD, including atomoxetine (APO-Atomoxetine®), guanfacine (Intuniv®) and clonidine (Catapres®).
Will all GPs be able to prescribe ADHD medicines?
GPs who have an authority as a continuation prescriber will be able to prescribe psychostimulant medicines for people aged 6 years and older who already have a diagnosis of ADHD and who are stable on their medicine. The application process is open to all GPs who meet the requirements, but not all GPs will apply.
In some cases GPs may also participate in ‘co-management’. This is a shared care arrangement where your GP provides regular management of your condition and a non-GP specialist has continued involvement. The non-GP specialist could be a psychiatrist, paediatrician or neurologist. These arrangements are not changing as part of the reform. Your GP may consider that an ongoing shared care arrangement with non-GP specialist review is best in your situation.
How can I find a continuation prescriber?
You can discuss this with your regular GP, or staff at the general practice you attend. Its best to receive all of your care with one GP, if you can.
You can also search for practices where a continuation prescriber works, by suburb or postcode. To find a practice with a continuation provider visit healthdirect and use the service finder tab to search for general practice services by suburb or postcode.
Once you select a practice, you can check whether they have a continuation prescriber listed in the additional information section. This will appear as 'ADHD continuation prescriber'.
If you are having difficulty locating a practice, please contact healthdirect on 1800 022 222, where a team member can assist you.
Please note that not all participating GPs have provided their consent to list this service on healthdirect.
How much will the GP consultation cost?
GPs will continue to charge for consultations according to their usual practice. The costs of an appointment depend on a range of factors including the length of the consultation and the number of issues that are covered.
How long will the prescription from a GP be valid?
Prescriptions for psychostimulant medicines from a GP will be valid for up to 6 months from the date of prescription. This is the same as prescriptions for psychostimulant medicines from non-GP specialist doctors.
It is important that you also have an in-person review every 6 months with your GP or non-GP specialist doctor who is prescribing your medicines, or more frequently if recommended by your care provider.
Will the medications prescribed by my GP be eligible for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?
Yes. If the medicine type and reason for the prescription fulfill the criteria of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), your GP can prescribe these medicines in the same way that a non-GP specialist doctor does.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
ADHD is typically diagnosed by specialist health professionals such as paediatricians or psychiatrists. If you need psychostimulant medicine, this is usually initially prescribed by a paediatrician or psychiatrist. This will remain the case during the first stage of the ADHD reforms which start on 1 September 2025.
Depending on the age and history of the person having an assessment, there may be multiple sources of information collected. This could include a school counsellor or teachers, family members, psychologists and others. Psychologists are also often involved in the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD, especially when there are other co-occurring conditions such as autism spectrum disorder.
Will I still see a non-GP specialist doctor as well as a GP for management of ADHD?
The changes will expand the role of GPs in managing the care of people with ADHD. For ongoing review and prescription of psychostimulant medicines, people aged 6 years and older with an established diagnosis of ADHD who are stable on their medicine may either:
- visit their GP who is a continuation prescriber
- continue to see a non-GP specialist doctor.
If your GP is providing your ongoing prescriptions, they might still refer you to a non-GP specialist doctor for review. This may be because they have concerns about the management of your condition, as happens for a range of health issues. Your GP may also consider that a shared-care arrangement with regular review by a non-GP specialist doctor is best in your situation.
What is the next stage of the planned changes?
The next stage of the ADHD reforms will include training and support of some GPs in priority areas (‘endorsed prescribers’) to make an assessment to diagnose ADHD and commence psychostimulant medicines, where appropriate. Further information about endorsed prescribers is expected to be available in late 2025.