Severe asthma (SA) Program in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-18051136

This document outlines details of PBS-subsidised biological medicines for patients with severe asthma (SA).

For information on how to process a PBS Authority, see Processing Complex Authority Required Listings.

Restrictions	Authority level and section	PA assessment	Processing system	Prescriber type	Prescriber self-serve
Initial Recommencement - break > 6 months PB188 form	Written Electronic S100: omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: paediatric respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist paediatrician, in consultation with a respiratory physician, or general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician	Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used)
Continuing	Telephone Electronic S100: omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: paediatric respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist paediatrician in consultation with a respiratory physician, or general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician	Yes
Balance of supply	Telephone Electronic S100: omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: paediatric respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist paediatrician in consultation with a respiratory physician general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician	Yes

Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - adolescent and adult (patients aged 12 years or older)

Table 2

Restrictions	Authority level and section	PA assessment	Processing system	Prescriber type	Prescriber self-serve
Initial or recommencement after a break (>12 months) PB075 form	Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist, or general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma	Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used)
Continuing PB076 form	Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab Note: patients on dupilumab 300mg can lower the dose to 200mg as continuing treatment.	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist, or general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma	Yes
Continuing	Telephone Electronic S100: omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist, or general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma	Yes
Change PB285 form	Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist, or general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma	Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used)
Balance of supply	Telephone Electronic S100: benralizumab mepolizumab omalizumab	No	OPA	Must be treated by a: paediatric respiratory physician clinical immunologist allergist paediatrician, or general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma	Yes

Delayed assessment

Delayed assessment due to contraindication and/or intolerance to optimised asthma therapy.

Table 2: this table lists the details of what to check for the delayed assessment and common acronyms.

Service Officers to assess free text is:	Examples	Outcome
Relevant to the question	Hypersensitivity to any components of the formulation Gastrointestinal adverse reactions	Approve
Random text	Happy Birthday Patient did not want to take Ikasditbn	Reject
Non-descriptive	Toxicity	Reject

Common acronyms

LFT - Liver function tests
GI toxicity - Gastrointestinal
N+V - Nausea and vomiting

Escalate to a Pharmaceutical Adviser (PA) by phone if unsure of acronym used.

Operational Information

Severe asthma (SA) Program in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-18051136

On this page:

Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - paediatric (patients aged 6 to 11 years old)

Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - adolescent and adult (patients aged 12 years or older)

Delayed assessment