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Giant cell arteritis (GCA) Program in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-19072601

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Giant cell arteritis (GCA) restriction and item codes

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\\INTERNAL.DEPT.LOCAL\Shared\NAT\SERDELEXCEL\WORKPRODIMP\Operation Blueprint Migration\RDT Release Icons\32w\icon-hidden-attachment.pngPBS giant cell arteritis restriction and item codes

Contact details

PBS Complex Drugs Program team

Forms

Giant cell arteritis - tocilizumab - initial authority application form (PB272)

Services Australia website

Giant cell arteritis

External websites

PBS schedule for Giant cell arteritis

FAQs from Service Officers

Table 1: see Table 2 in Processing Complex Authority Required Listings for FAQs about all Complex programs.

Item

Description

1

What is the maximum amount of PBS-subsidised tocilizumab treatment that can be approved?

Patients can qualify once only in a lifetime for Initial and Continuing therapy and cannot receive more than 52 weeks of total treatment. A second initial application cannot be considered.

2

If a patient's blood results are not elevated as they have been on prednisolone or another steroid, can this be accepted?

No. The PBS restriction has no provisions for non-elevated blood results, and all patients must meet the PBS criteria.