Services Australia have recently released advice for prescribers requesting PBS authorities via the Online PBS Authorities system: 

“We understand having timely access to PBS-subsidised medicines can be critical to patient care. That’s why it’s important to ensure when requesting a new PBS authority in the online PBS authorities system (the system) that you don’t edit an existing authority request. Instead, select either ‘request authority’ from the system homepage or the ‘new authority’ or ‘new authority same patient’ button from the application assessment result screen of an existing PBS authority. Editing an existing authority rather than selecting one of these options may result in a rejection when your patient attempts to have their prescription dispensed at an approved supplier.”

“Prescribers can continue to amend/edit/revise existing authorities where changes are needed and where the authority prescription has not yet been supplied (e.g., if the prescription needs to be reprinted and the authority prescription number has changed).”

For further information regarding the Online PBS Authorities system, please contact authority.comms.change@servicesaustralia.gov.au or visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hppbsauthorities.