Authority required items in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-63010000

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.

Increased quantities and/or repeats may be approved for these items based on:

• dosage
• pack size, and
• treatment period provided the patient meets the restriction criteria

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

• accessing online PBS Authorities system, see Authority approval processing for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• contacting the Authority Approvals Team by telephone, see Process telephone Authority approval application
• uploading the written authority application via HPOS (Health Professional Online Services), see Processing Written Authority requests
• writing via mail, see Processing Written Authority requests

Authority required (STREAMLINED) items do not require prior authority approval from Services Australia to prescribe these medicines for listed quantities and repeats. A 4 digit code obtained from the PBS website or the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits must be included by the approved prescriber on the authority prescription form.

Approved prescribers can apply for the majority of PBS items, including increased quantity and repeats where allowed via online PBS Authorities. This removes the need for approved prescribers to telephone Services Australia for most authority approvals.

Approved prescribers can request PBS Authority approvals online by using:

• upgraded clinical or prescribing software, or
• Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)