Increasing the PBS medicines that can be approved online

Services Australia has been working with the Department of Health and Aged Care to increase the number of PBS items that can be approved in ‘real time’ using the Online PBS Authorities System.

Prescribers can submit certain Authority Required ‘Written’ (written) PBS medicines on the schedule using the system. Over time, more written PBS medicines across broader medicine groups will be added to the system for ‘real time’ approval.

Work to update the relevant PBS listings will continue and this information will be shared as it becomes available.   This work will include improving the system’s digital capability to support the transition of Authority Required (Written) medicines for online access.

Whenever there are changes, prescribers will receive a summary table which includes information on what’s changed, for what condition, and the drugs that treat it. 

More information is available here.

New and amended PBS listings

A number of new and amended Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings were implemented on 1 June 2024. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) relating to access and use of the Online PBS Authorities system can be found here.

Changes to the prescription process from 1 July 2024

The Department of Health and Aged Care has reviewed and remade a number of legislative instruments.  As a result of the review, the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 have also been amended.  For further information regarding the legislation changes go to www.legislation.gov.au.

The remade legislation took effect on 1 April 2024 and changed Services Australia’s processes for PBS Authority Required applications submitted via the post. We no longer require the original prescription to assess your request, only the details of the proposed PBS prescription. We won’t record the Authority Approval Number on the prescription or forward approved prescriptions to the patient.

A transition period will be in place from 1 April 2024, with the process changes coming into full effect on 1 July 2024.

From 1 July 2024, Services Australia will only accept details of the proposed PBS prescription (and PDF form where appropriate) when seeking PBS authority approval via the post.

Once processed, the assessment outcome will be sent to the prescriber via the post. If approved, the prescriber will need to endorse the original PBS authority prescription with the PBS Approval Number and PBS item code.

It’s important to note all original prescriptions received via the post that are written on or after 1 July 2024 will be immediately returned to the prescriber. Services Australia will retain a copy of the prescription for processing.

PBS Authority prescription pads will be updated to remove the ‘Tick for return to patient’ checkbox. You can continue to use your residual stock as it will still be valid.

Timely access to PBS-subsidised medicines can be critical to patient care. You can submit written PBS Authorities through the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) Form Upload function. Also, most PBS Authorities can be requested and approved in ‘real time’ using the Online PBS Authorities system.

For more information about HPOS Form Upload visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpos

For more information about the Online PBS Authorities system visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hppbsauthorities

Services Australia has a broad range of educational resources on the Health Professional Education Resources website. This includes simulations, podcast and an infographic on the Online PBS Authorities system. Visit https://hpe.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme.html

Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpwrittenauthoritydrugs on the Services Australia website to find the most up to date authority application form for each drug, program or condition.

For more information go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpos