Do you prescribe PBS medicines? What you need to know
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (the Schedule
) lists all medicines subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). PBS benefits fall into three broad categories:
- Unrestricted benefits - medicines that are not limited by therapeutic uses
- Restricted benefits - medicines that are PBS subsidised only for specific therapeutic uses
- Authority benefits - Authority items fall into two categories:
- authority required benefits are restricted medicine that require prior approval from Medicare Australia or the DVA—noted as authority required.
- authority required (STREAMLINED) benefits are restricted medicine that do not require prior approval from Medicare Australia or the DVA but require the recording of a streamlined authority code—noted as authority required (STREAMLINED).
How are medicines listed on the PBS?
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval and PBS listing process [PDF, 164Kb]
- More information on how medicines are listed on the PBS
Where can I find the PBS approved indications for restricted benefits?
The PBS approved indications for restricted benefits are listed in bold italics underneath the medicine in the Schedule and are clearly visible if selecting the item through your prescribing software.
What if I want to prescribe a PBS restricted medicine for a use not listed in the PBS?
When prescribing a restricted benefit for a use not listed on the PBS, you must write a non-PBS prescription. The cost to the patient for a non-PBS prescription might differ between pharmacies.
For more information on PBS subsidised uses, please refer to the Schedule.
How do I write a non-PBS prescription?
PBS stationery may be used to write non-PBS prescriptions provided you strike out the PBS and RPBS boxes on the prescription. Additionally, endorsing the prescription as ‘non-PBS’ ensures your intentions are made clear. Non-PBS and PBS items should not be prescribed on the same prescription form.
- Helping explain non-PBS prescriptions to patients
- General information on how PBS medicines are listed on the PBS
- To assist when writing PBS prescriptions
For more information
- Contact us at Medicare Australia
- Visit PBS Online
Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.
Last updated: 19 March, 2010
