Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) gives all Australian residents and eligible overseas visitors access to prescription medicine in a way that is affordable, reliable and timely. Through the PBS, the Australian Government subsidises the cost of listed prescription medicine, making it more affordable for all Australians.
The Department of Human Services administers the PBS which includes processing claims and paying benefits under the PBS and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS).
To improve your knowledge of the PBS, you can access PBS education online—suitable for both new and experienced providers.
PBS stationery
The Camerons Group is the authorised supplier of PBS stationery. The Camerons Group receive, process and arrange delivery of PBS stationery through Australia Post.
PBS stationery ordering contact details
Community pharmacies, private hospital pharmacies and participating public hospitals
- website: camerons.net/pbs
- email: pbs@camerons.net
- phone: 02 9933 4456
- fax: 02 9933 4441
Stoma associations and paraquad associations
Fax your order to 02 9933 4441.
Doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurse practitioners and midwives
To order non-personalised stationery call 132 290.
To order personalised stationery, go to our PBS forms page, complete the relevant form and send it to us:
Prescription Pad Order Clerk
Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 9826
Sydney NSW 2001
Delivery timeframes
Personalised stationery will be despatched within 28 days of the order being received.
Non personalised stationery will be despatched within 3 days of the order being received.
Australia Post is the authorised distributor for PBS stationery, and will deliver your order within 1-5 business days if you’re in a capital city or up to 13 business days if you’re in a rural or remote area.
Approved community pharmacies, private hospital pharmacies and participating public hospitals
If you're an approved community pharmacy, private hospital pharmacy or participating public hospital and order directly through the stationery provider, you can only order stationery through The Camerons Group.
Any orders placed through Ducor, the previous PBS stationery supplier, won’t be accepted.
To order through The Camerons Group website, your logon is your pharmacy approval number and a one-time-use password has been created for your first visit. We sent you your password in August 2012.
If you haven’t received a letter (and are eligible to order PBS stationery), contact The Camerons Group on 02 9933 4456.
Contact details:
- website: camerons.net/pbs
- email: pbs@camerons.net
- phone: 02 9933 4456
- fax: 02 9933 4441
Stoma associations and paraquad associations
If you're a stoma association or paraquad association, fax your order to The Camerons Group on:
- fax: 02 9933 4441
All enquiries can be directed to The Camerons Group by:
- email: pbs@camerons.net
- phone: 02 9933 4456
Doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurse practitioners and midwives
If you order stationery through us, nothing has changed. The steps you follow are the same.
To order non-personalised stationery call 132 290.
To order personalised stationery, go to our forms page, complete the relevant form and send it to us:
Prescription Pad Order Clerk
Pharmaceutical Benefits Branch
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 9826
Sydney NSW 2001
PBS stationery order forms are only available online
Prescribers can only download PBS stationery order forms from our website. Go to the forms page.
Form 4009 PBS/RPBS Repeat Authorisation form has been discontinued
This form is no longer available for ordering PBS stationery. We sent you a letter in August 2012 to tell you that the form is no longer available.
Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement
Several initiatives under the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement have been introduced for approved pharmacists meeting the relevant criteria. Information and applications forms are now available.
Stoma Appliance Scheme
Information about this scheme can be found on the information sheet [PDF, 191Kb]
and on the Department of Health and Ageing website.
Online claiming for PBS
Medicare Australia is now rolling out Online claiming for PBS to the wider pharmacy community.
Safety Net 20 Day rule
The new PBS Safety Net 20 day rule means that for certain specified PBS medicine a resupply within 20 days of a previous supply, of the same medicine, will fall outside Safety Net benefits. For that supply:
- the patient contribution will not count towards the PBS Safety Net threshold, or
- where the PBS Safety Net threshold has been reached, the usual patient contribution applies -not the reduced PBS Safety Net amount.
For further information about the PBS Safety Net 20 day rule please visit Department of Health and Ageing.
PBS Enquiries and Support
For all PBS enquiries and support call 132 290.
Dial option:
- for concession and Medicare entitlement enquiries
- for all claim payment, Safety Net, stationery and general enquiries
- for technical support for online claiming or information about online claiming.
When you choose one of these options, your call will be diverted to a Medicare Australia customer service operator with the relevant expertise to answer your enquiry. This will ensure your call is answered efficiently and effectively.
Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.
Last updated: 7 May, 2013