The Department of Health and Aged Care has reviewed and remade the following instruments: the National Health (Listings of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012, the National Health (Prescriber bag supplies) Determination 2012, and the National Health (Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy) Special Arrangement 2011. As a result of the review, the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 have also been amended. For further information regarding the legislation changes go to www.legislation.gov.au

The remade legislation will take effect from 1 April 2024. To make sure Services Australia is compliant with the legislation, there’ll be changes to the PBS Authority Required applications sent by mail. 

Services Australia no longer requires the original prescription to assess your request, only the details of the proposed PBS prescription. They won’t record the Authority Approval Number on the prescription or forward approved prescriptions to the patient. 

There’ll be a transition period for prescriptions written from 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024. You can continue to submit the original prescription by mail or send a copy of the proposed prescription. 

Changes from 1 July 2024 

From 1 July 2024, if you request a PBS Authority approval by mail, Services Australia will only accept a copy of the original PBS authority prescription (and PDF form where appropriate). The copy must be legible and contain all information required for the authority request to be processed by Services Australia. 

Once the request has been processed, you’ll receive the assessment outcome by mail. If approved, you’ll need to endorse the original PBS Authority prescription with the PBS Approval Number and PBS item code. 

It’s important to note Services Australia cannot accept original prescriptions that are written from 1 July 2024. They will retain a copy of the prescription for processing and return the original to you. 

Services Australia is updating PBS Authority prescription pads to remove the ‘Tick for return to patient’ checkbox. You can continue to use your residual stock after 1 July as it will still be valid, but you should not send the original PBS Authority prescription to Services Australia after that date.

Did you know?

Services Australia understands having timely access to PBS-subsidised medicines can be critical to patient care. You can submit written PBS Authorities through the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) Form Upload function. Also, most PBS Authorities can be requested and approved in ‘real time’ using the Online PBS Authorities system. 

For more information about HPOS Form Upload visit HPOS - Services Australia 

For more information about the Online PBS Authorities system visit Online PBS Authorities system - PBS for prescribers - Services Australia

Services Australia has a broad range of educational resources on the Health Professional Education Resources website. This includes a podcast, simulations and an infographic on the Online PBS Authorities system. Visit Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - Services Australia

If you need help or have any queries, please email authority.comms.change@servicesaustralia.gov.au