Skip to navigation Skip to content

Opioids - prescriptions and approvals 012-20101406

Expand/Collapse all sectionsExpand all


This document contains information about opioid prescriptions and approvals.

Opioid prescriptions and approvals

For opioids listed on the Palliative Care Schedule:

  • Prescribers can apply for PLC opioids by:
    • phone
    • prescriber self-serve through Online PBS Authorities (OPA) System using HPOS
    • written application, either by post or HPOS Form Upload
  • To help prescribers with written requests a Palliative Care Schedule - opioid treatment authority application form (PB306) is available
  • Most opioids are dual listed on both the General (S85) Schedule and the Palliative Care Schedule. Staff must assess applications:
    • based on which form (for written authorities) the prescriber submits, or
    • by asking the prescriber which listing is being requested during the call
  • Palliative care opioids have different restriction criteria

The General (S85) Schedule - opioid treatment authority application form (PB294) is available to help prescribers to submit written opioid prescriptions for approval.

For opioids listed on the General (S85) Schedule:

  • Prescribers are not required to give the details (for example, name and date) of the annual pain management review
  • For palliative care patients only:
    • palliative care nurse practitioners can conduct the review
    • a review is not required if it is not possible due to the patient’s condition
  • Each drug has 3 restrictions to choose from based on the patient’s treatment phase and length of treatment:
    • Initial after 1 June 2020 where opioid treatment is less than 12 months
    • Initial after 1 June 2020 where opioid treatment is greater than 12 months
    • Continuing for this drug and form after 1 June 2020

To help prescribers understand the requirements, Service Officers should send the following along with the relevant rejection letter when returning authority applications to prescribers:

  • the General (S85) Schedule - opioid treatment authority application form (PB294), or
  • the Palliative Care Schedule - opioid treatment authority application form (PB306)

For information listed on Opioid dependence treatment (ODT), see Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) Program.

For details on how to process a written prescription, see Processing Written Authority requests.

The Resources page contains tables on approvals, FAQs, and links to forms and useful websites.