Processing an existing Authority request in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-63020020

Service Officers can amend authority prescriptions in the following situations:

• completing saved/pended applications
• correcting errors made during processing of written applications
• changing a written prescription that was rejected and has been resubmitted for approval
• processing phone applications or written authorities to add information into the Authority Comments field
• prescription issues (for example, did not print) for which a new approval has been granted
• helping a prescriber who has called about a rejection when using the OPA system (self-serve)

Only Service Officers with the relevant skill tag can amend:

• General authority items
• Complex Authority Required (CAR) drugs

Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) items must not be amended. These should not be processed in the OPA system.

An authority request defined as 'too soon' is when:

• another authority prescription for the same item including strength has previously been approved, and
• adequate supplies should still exist

If the system shows more than 2 months' supply (filled or unfilled), it is considered as too soon, except in the case of Dangerous Drugs (DDs) and certain exceptions specified on the National Drug Reference Database (NDRD) where more than one month’s supply is considered as too soon.