Release of information in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-60100000

Release of prescriber numbers

The agency can release a prescriber number to a pharmacist or approved supplier staff where the prescriber has failed to include the prescriber number on a:

• PBS prescription, or
• Doctor’s Bag Order Form (DBOF)

The pharmacist or approved supplier staff needs the prescriber number to enable payment for the supply of the prescribed PBS medicines.

The prescriber number is needed on prescriptions:

• written by dentists, optometrists, midwives and nurse practitioners
• from participating public hospitals. Where the prescriber number has been omitted from a prescription, the pharmacist or approved supplier staff can contact the hospital directly to get the prescriber number

Release of doctor's details to software vendors or developers

The agency cannot release a list of doctor provider and/or prescriber details to software vendors or developers. Release of the above information by the agency is restricted by the secrecy provisions.

The Resources page contains legislation relevant to the secrecy provisions.

Release authority information to pharmacists or approved supplier staff

If a pharmacist or approved supplier staff need information to clarify a prescription, they must first attempt to contact the prescribing doctor (i.e., treating prescriber). If the prescribing doctor is unavailable, the pharmacist or approved supplier staff can contact the agency to get authority information. See Authority approval processing for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Delegation to release authority information

Service Officers can release authority information, when the medicine prescribed matches the information recorded on the authority approval system. Information can be released to a:

• pharmacist or approved supplier staff
• prescriber
• prescriber's nursing or administrative staff
• patient,
• or someone with the patient's implied consent

Where the medicine prescribed does not match the information recorded on the authority approval system, the agency cannot release any information.

The Process page contains both of these processes.

The Resources page contains a quick reference summary table.

Under legislation, an individual or family is responsible for maintaining their own prescription records on a Prescription Record Form (PRF). However, in practice, the pharmacy may keep this record for them. There can be situations where a pharmacy cannot provide prescription record information to the patient or family.

This policy provides advice to staff answering queries from individuals or families:

• seeking prescription record information from the agency, or
• where they are unable to get this information from their pharmacy

Reasons can include:

• Safety Net records have been destroyed or stolen. For example, a pharmacy has been destroyed by fire or natural disaster. Where pharmacy records have been destroyed by hardware failure, or a theft has occurred
• a Safety Net concession card has been issued, and:
• PRF details have been sent to the agency to support a pharmacist's claim, and
• the patient now needs the documentation to apply for a Safety Net entitlement card (crossover arrangement or over the threshold patient refunds)

Where an individual's Safety Net records have been destroyed or stolen, they can write to the agency requesting their prescription record information.

An individual or family must make the request in writing and include the following information:

• applicant's name
• applicant's address
• applicant's date of birth
• applicant's Medicare or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card number or Safety Net card number (if applicable)
• names of other eligible family members
• period of time they would like the request to cover (from and to date)

The individual must also sign the request.

For requests from a family, each member aged 14 years or over must sign the request, or each provide a separate request. This includes spouses.

A pharmacist or approved supplier staff cannot apply for this information on behalf of an individual or family.

Send requests for address to Information Release.

The Resources page contains a link to contact details for release of information.