Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) - Authority required - Health Professionals 012-63000000

Some pharmaceutical benefits are listed for specific therapeutic uses and require prior approval from:

• Services Australia, or
• the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)

These items are noted as Authority required items in the Schedule.

Approval is needed when the:

• benefit is first prescribed to a patient
• amount or number of repeats needs to be increased

Approved prescribers can apply for an Authority approval from Services Australia by:

• accessing online PBS Authorities system, see Mainframe Authority approval processing for Pharmaceutical Advisers (PA)
• contacting the Authority approvals Team by phone, see Processing an existing Authority request in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• uploading the written authority application via HPOS, see Processing new Authority requests in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• writing via mail, see Processing new Authority requests in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Approved prescribers can apply for the majority of PBS items, including increased quantity and repeats (where allowed) via online PBS Authorities.

Items which cannot be completed through online services require written approval.

Approved prescribers can request PBS Authority approvals online by using:

• upgraded clinical or prescribing software, or
• HPOS

PBS prescriptions must be in accordance with relevant Commonwealth law.

See Claim Processing in the New Claim Processing System for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Each state or territory has its own legislation that determines how approved prescribers should prescribe certain drugs listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits.

Services Australia does not enforce state law, but the Service Officer may be prompted to remind approved prescribers of their responsibility to comply with state laws.

Approved prescribers

Approved prescribers must acknowledge a statement field, if shown, on the OPA Authority screen.