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Non-Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Miscellaneous Enquiries 012-18060501

This page contains information about how to determine if the item is non-PBS, which category the medication belongs to and what action to take.

Determining a PBS item

Actions to take when determining a PBS item

This table describes how Service Officers determine if an item is PBS listed.

Step	Action
1	Identifying a PBS listed item + Read more ... Is the item listed on the PBS website? Yes, go to Step 2 No, this is not a PBS listed item. The item needs to supplied or prescribed privately in accordance with state/territory laws. See Resources page for contact details of state health departments. Note: if an item is not registered in Australia for use, the item may possibly be accessed under the Special Access Scheme (SAS). For more information about the SAS scheme, see the Resources page.
2	Repatriation care items + Read more ... Is the source recorded as ‘Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits’ and the item has a maroon coloured box with an ‘R’ inside it next to the name? Yes, refer to the caller to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Procedure ends here. No, go to Step 3
3	S100 opiate dependence + Read more ... Is the source recorded as ‘S100 Opiate Dependence’? Yes, refer the caller to their local state/territory health department. See the Resources page for contact details. Procedure ends here. No, go to Step 4
4	Authority Required + Read more ... Is there is an ‘authority required’ note on the item? Yes, go to Step 5 No, go to Step 6
5	Complex drugs + Read more ... Expand the link titled ‘Authority required’. Does the criteria or note advise to contact the Complex Drugs team in Hobart? Yes, escalate the call to the Complex Drugs team. Procedure ends here No, go to Step 6 Note: medications managed by the Complex Drugs team can also be identified by going to the National Drugs Reference Database (NDRD) and searching “TAS” space and then the medicine’s name e.g. ‘TAS abatacept’.
6	National Drug Reference Database (NDRD) + Read more ... Search for the item in the NDRD using search term ‘TAS’ space and the medicine name. For example, ‘TAS abatacept’. Is the item listed? Yes, read the NDRD comments and escalate the enquiry to the Complex Drugs team if appropriate No, this is not a PBS listed item. The item needs to supplied or prescribed privately in accordance with state/territory laws. See the Resources page for state health department contact details