The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (the PBS Schedule) 012-60010010
Expand allSchedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (online)
Access current and historical versions of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (the PBS Schedule) online via the Department of Health and Aged Care website links below:
Schedule and summary of changes (offline)
The documents marked with an asterisk * are provided on the understanding that they are not released before publication of The General Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits and The Section 100 Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (7 calendar days before the effective date).
See Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy (EFC) changes in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
PBS Schedule - Summary of Changes
Do not share these attachments externally. See Freedom of Information - Information Publication Scheme.
1 November 2024*
1 October 2024
PBS Schedule Errata - 1 September 2024
Supply Only Listings
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1 November 2024
1 October 2024
Ready prepared items
Table 1: this table lists ready prepared items available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). These items are grouped under different headings.
|
Heading |
Explanation |
|
Prescriber Bag Supplies (Emergency treatment) |
Certain pharmaceutical benefits are provided without charge to prescribers who in turn can supply them free to patients for immediate administration or emergency use. Prescribers may order once a month to the maximum quantity of an item provided they do not already have the maximum quantity on hand. The patient, who is treated with an emergency drug, from the doctor, is not required to pay for that item. |
|
Special Pharmaceutical Benefits |
A special patient contribution is payable for certain drugs where there exists a price disagreement with the manufacturer and the government. The special patient contribution is the difference between the dispensed price of the benefit, based on the price to the pharmacist sought by the manufacturer and the dispensed price acceptable to the Government. All patients are required to pay this special patient contribution plus their normal patient contribution when one of these items is dispensed. The special patient contribution cannot be recorded for Safety Net purposes. The special patient contribution is not payable by veterans entitled to pharmaceutical benefits under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS). |
|
General Pharmaceutical Benefits |
These are listed in therapeutic groupings. The listing is based on therapeutical categories using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. This allows prescribers to have information on PBS drugs of similar action or purpose in the same section of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. Pharmaceutical benefits that fall into more than the one therapeutic group are cross-referenced. The Therapeutic Index and Generic/Proprietary Index located at the back of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits provides a useful page reference for each benefit. |
|
Pharmaceutical Benefits for Dental Use |
Participating dental practitioners can only prescribe certain drugs (mainly antibiotics and painkillers) for the treatment of their patients. No repeats are allowed. No increased quantities are allowed. |
|
Items available under Special Arrangements (Section 100) |
In addition to the drugs and medicinal preparations listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, a number of drugs are also available as pharmaceutical benefits but are distributed under alternative arrangements where these are considered more appropriate. Highly Specialised Drugs Program The Australian Government provides funding for certain specialised medications under the Highly Specialised Drugs Program. Highly Specialised Drugs are medicines for the treatment of chronic conditions which, because of their clinical use or other special features, are restricted to supply through public and private hospitals having access to appropriate specialist facilities. Medical practitioners not affiliated with these specialist hospital units cannot prescribe these drugs as pharmaceutical benefit items. To provide maintenance therapy, a general practitioner or non-specialist hospital doctor may only prescribe Highly Specialised Drugs under the guidance of the treating specialist. Benefits are available for the listed clinical indications only. There is no facility for individual patient approval for indications outside those listed. To gain access to an Australian Government funded drug under this program, a patient must:
Note: when the patient is from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country, they can only receive the original supply. Repeat prescriptions for these patients are not permitted. Private hospitals In addition to the above requirement for Highly Specialised Drugs prescribed through private hospitals, claiming and approval of authority prescriptions is administered by the agency. Highly Specialised Drugs are authority-required items and medical practitioners must seek by telephone, and be granted, approval to prescribe these items as pharmaceutical benefits prior to their dispensing under the PBS. Prescriptions for Highly Specialised Drugs can be dispensed by an approved private hospital’s dispensary or by a community pharmacy. Public hospitals For Highly Specialised Drugs through public hospitals, claiming and access to the programs is administered by state or territory health departments. Prescriptions for Highly Specialised Drugs can be dispensed by public hospital pharmacies. Section 100 items Section 100 items where special arrangements are in place include such things as:
Details regarding these drugs and how to access them are also included in the Section 100 part of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. |
Container prices, fees, standard packs and prices for ready prepared pharmaceutical benefits
Table 2: this table provides an explanation of the container prices, fees, standard packs and prices for ready prepared pharmaceutical benefits.
|
Item |
Explanation |
|
Container prices |
Container prices for ready prepared items where less than a standard pack is supplied. |
|
Fees |
Ready Prepared Item dispensing Fee. Dangerous Drug Fee. Additional fee for Ready Prepared Benefits. |
|
Drug listing |
A list of all items where the manufacturers pack does not coincide with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) maximum quantity including:
|
Extemporaneously prepared pharmaceutical benefit items
Table 3: this table provides item descriptions of extemporaneously prepared pharmaceutical benefit items.
|
Item |
Description |
|
Drug tariff |
A list of ingredients that may be used to make extemporaneous items. The recovery prices for each ingredient. The standard or quality of each ingredient. |
|
Container prices |
A list of the different containers available. The price paid for each container. The dispensing fee for extemporaneously prepared benefits. The additional fee for Agreed Price Extemporaneously Prepared Benefits. |
|
Standard formulae preparations |
Key to references in the standard formula list. A list of each standard formula item listed on the PBS including:
Note: container rates are included in standard formula preparations prices. |
|
Table of codes |
A list of the types of preparations available. Maximum quantities and maximum number of repeats allowable for extemporaneously prepared benefits. |
Benefit item layout
Table 4: this table lists the benefit items grouped under 8 different headings.
|
Column |
Explanation |
|
Code |
A unique code is allocated to each item listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. This code is made up of numeric and alpha characters. Where an item is available in a different chemical composition, strength or form, a unique item code is also allocated. Sometimes more than one item code is given to the same pharmaceutical benefit item when it is used to treat more than one medical condition. |
|
Name, restriction, manner of administration and form |
Medicines are available in different forms, for example, tablets, capsules, creams, injections. Some reasons why medicines are available in different forms are:
The pharmaceutical benefit items are listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits in 'generic' name order within the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. The 'generic' name refers to the active chemical ingredient in the item. The generic name, restriction, the manner in which the drug is administered and the strength of the items are listed in this column. |
|
Maximum quantity |
This column indicates the maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical benefit item that can be dispensed at any one time. This quantity may represent the amount of medicine needed to treat short-term illnesses or, in the case of long-term conditions, it may represent one month's supply. It is not necessary for doctors to prescribe the maximum quantity of the item when the prescriber considers a lesser quantity is sufficient for the patient's needs. When the quantity to be prescribed is more than indicated in the column, the doctor can write an authority prescription which would require approval from Services Australia before the item can be supplied as a PBS benefit. |
|
Number of repeats |
This column represents the maximum number of times the pharmaceutical benefit item can be dispensed subsequently on the same prescription. It is the prescriber who decides whether or not repeats are necessary and the number of repeats required. In the case of some drugs, no repeats are allowed. When the number of repeats to be prescribed is more than indicated in the column, the doctor can write an authority prescription which would require approval from Services Australia before the item can be supplied as a PBS benefit. |
|
Premium |
The brand price or Therapeutic Premium will appear in this column when applicable. See also: Pricing and fees in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) |
|
Dispensed price for max, qty $ |
This column contains the price that is used as the basis for calculating reimbursement when a pharmacist lodges a claim with Services Australia. Reimbursement is based on the dispensed price of the lowest price brand, or dispensed price listed less brand or therapeutic premium. In addition pharmacists are permitted to charge patients an 'additional fee' and a 'surcharge' to this price, but the amount charged must not be more than the maximum patient contribution applicable to the patient involved. When a surcharge is made, this surcharge cannot be recorded for Safety Net purposes, see Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net processing and enquiries |
|
Maximum recordable value for Safety Net $ |
This column contains the maximum value of the item that can be recorded for Safety Net purposes for General patients. The value shown in this column includes the additional fee that pharmacists can add, and they often charge patients this amount. Pharmacists are permitted to add a surcharge to this price, but the amount charged must not be more than the maximum patient contribution applicable to the patient involved. Surcharges cannot be recorded for Safety Net purposes. |
|
Proprietary name and manufacturer |
The same generic drug in the same form and with the same strength can be manufactured by different companies under different 'proprietary brand' names. A unique item code is allocated to each chemical composition, strength and form even when there are different proprietary brand names involved. This column contains the proprietary name of the item and the manufacturer’s code. This code consists of 2 alpha characters. The 'Index of Manufacturers' Codes' can be used to obtain the full names of the pharmaceutical companies. |
Item availability
Table 5: this table describes the 3 levels of availability for pharmaceutical items.
|
Availability level |
Description |
|
Unrestricted |
The items shown in light print may be prescribed as a pharmaceutical benefit item for any medical condition. |
|
Restricted |
The items with a subheading 'Restricted Benefit' can only be prescribed to treat one of the medical conditions listed. The supply of the benefit should only be used for the listed condition. Some prescribers still notate their prescriptions with SP (specified condition) to indicate that their patient has this medical condition but there is no legal requirement to do so. |
|
Authority required |
Items with the sub-heading 'Authority Required' can only be prescribed as a pharmaceutical benefit after authority approval has been obtained from Services Australia. |
Miscellaneous abbreviations
Table 6: this table lists the description of miscellaneous abbreviations for items in the PBS system.
|
Abbreviation |
Explanation |
|
$ |
Without |
|
(B) |
(Base) |
|
/ |
Per |
|
¢ |
With |
Abbreviations for items in PBS - A to D
This table describes abbreviations A to D for items in the PBS system.
|
Letter |
Abbreviations |
|
A-D |
ACET, ACETIC, ACTN, ACTNS, ADHSV, ADH, AFT, AF, A, ALT, AMP, AMPS, ANA, ANHY, APPS, APP, AQ, AQUA, ARACHID, BND, BTWN, BTW, BT, B, CAP, CAPS, CARB, CH, CHL, CHLOR, CL, CAL, CALC, CLNSR, CODE, CONC, CONT, CR, (CR), CRM, CTGE, CTGES, CTN, CTNS, D, DD, (DD), DILU, DIL, DIPROP, DIS, DISOPROX, DISP, DOCOSAHEX, DP, DPS, DR, (DR), DS, DUAL-CHAM, DUAL-CHM |
Explanation for abbreviations A to D
This table lists the explanation for abbreviations from A to D for items in the PBS system.
Abbreviations for items in PBS - E to L
This table describes abbreviations E to L for items in the PBS system.
|
Letter |
Abbreviations |
|
E-L |
EC, (EC), EFFERV, EMTRIC, EQUIV, =, ER, (ER), FORM, G, GL, GLU, GLUC, GLYC, GRANS, GRAN, HCL, HEMI, HEMIHYD, HRS, IM, IMP, IMPLT, INC, INCR example (NO INC) (NO INCR), INFUS, INF, INHAL, INH, INIT, INJ, INJ SET, INT, IU, IV, K, KCAL, L, L-FREE, LIQ, LUB, LUBRICAT, LUBRICA, LZNGS, LOZ |
Explanation for abbreviations E to L
This table lists the explanation for abbreviations E to L for items in the PBS system.
Abbreviations for items in PBS - M to R
This table describes abbreviations M to R for items in the PBS system.
|
Letter |
Abbreviations |
|
M-R |
M, MAG, MAL, MALODOR, MALOD, MCG, MCL, MESYL, MG, MIN, MINS, ML, MMOL, MONO, MR, (MR), MOD REL, MULTI-D, MD, NEB, OINT, PARA, PATCH, PFS, PHOS, PHOSPH, PK, P, PR, (PR), PR, P, PRE/D, PRE-FILL, PRE-F, P-F, PRESERVE, PRSV, PRESS, PWD, QTY, Q example (NO QTY INC), (NO Q INC), REL, RPT, R example (NO RPT INC), (NO R INC) |
Explanation for abbreviations M to R
This table lists the explanation for abbreviations M to R for items in the PBS system.
Abbreviations for items in PBS - S to W
This table describes abbreviations S to W for items in the PBS system.
|
Letter |
Abbreviations |
|
S-W |
SACH, SACHS, SD SOD, SOL, SOLN, SOL, SOLV, SPR, SR, (SR), SUBCUT, SCUT, SULF, SULPH, SUPP, SUPPOS, SUPPL, S-USE, S-U, SU, SUSP, SUS, SUSPENS, SUST, SYP, SYR, SYRS, SYRG, TAB, TABS, TRANS-PATCHES, TRANS-PATCH, TRANS-SOLN, U, UD, VIT, VITS, VITS & MINS, VIT & MIN, V&M, WFI, WND |
Explanation for abbreviations S to W
This table lists the explanation for abbreviations S to W for items in the PBS system.
Highly Specialised Drugs Program Schedule
The Highly Specialised Drugs Program Schedule is incorporated into the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits:
- it contains details of the new arrangements and updated listing information for the Highly Specialised Drugs for supply in public and private hospitals
- is updated each month and published online at Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits
- if marked with an asterisk (*) is provided on the understanding that it is not released before publication of the 'Pharmaceutical Benefits for Highly Specialised Drugs Program Schedule' (7 calendar days before the effective date)
PBS Publications Archive provides the Schedule, Summary of Charges and Errata for the following dates:
Note: the Highly Specialised Drugs Program Schedule is incorporated into the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits.
See also: Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy (EFC) changes in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)