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PBS forms

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) makes sure all Australian residents have access to necessary and life-saving medicines at an affordable price. Most medicines available on prescription are subsidised under the PBS.

Medicare Australia administers the PBS, which includes processing claims and paying benefits for the PBS and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS).

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (the Schedule) lists the medicines available under the PBS. The Schedule is published online at the PBS WebsiteExternal link and is updated monthly to include new listings and the latest changes. The Schedule may be downloaded or printed from this website. A printed copy or CD Rom version of the Schedule may be purchased from the print on demand vendor.  More details are available on the PBS Health ProfessionalExternal link page.

PBS entitlement checking

Stationery reorder form

This service now allows pharmacists to order PBS stationery items over the internet. Initially, it will be possible to order repeat authorisation forms with other stationery items to be added. This facility is being provided and managed by Norcross Pty Ltd, and is supported by Medicare Australia.

How to register

Pharmacists wanting to order stationery over the internet will need to register by visiting Norcross onlineExternal link. When you have accessed the site and registered, you will then need to complete the pharmacy details. Once this is completed you will be registered within 48 hours. If you have not yet registered to order over the internet or if you would like to place an order, go to Norcross onlineExternal link. For more information email pharmacy@norcross.com.auEmail.

If you have already registered and now wish to place an order go to NorcrossExternal link.

Pharmacy Stationery Online Ordering System FAQ

 What security measures have been put in place to ensure that people can't order stationery under my name?
To order stationery through the online system, a security pin and the pharmacy approval number will be required with every transaction.
 How quickly after placing an order will my stock arrive?
Once you are registered, if you place an order before 11.00 am, the order will be dispatched the same day. If you order after 11.00 am, it will be despatched the next day. If an order is placed on a public holiday or the weekend, it will be treated as if ordered before 11.00am on the next working day.
 Will it be quicker than the current ordering system?
Yes. Ordering online removes the inconvenience of posting an order to Norcross. Instead, it is instantaneous and provides you with a confirmation page to be used as a transaction receipt.
 Why is Norcross not Medicare Australia, providing the online stationery ordering service to pharmacies?
Norcross currently receive, process and deliver stationery items on behalf of Medicare Australia. The step towards online ordering is one that Norcross have taken with the full support of Medicare Australia to make the ordering process more convenient and faster than the current method.

Medicine Export Declaration form

The Medicine Export Declaration form must be included when sending medicines overseas.

Authority for authorised pharmacist/s to sign claim form

The Authority for authorised pharmacist/s to sign claim form can be used to authorise another pharmacist to lodge claims on your behalf.

Obtaining Medicare numbers

To get Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card numbers for use in PBS or RPBS claims, call 132 290 (call charges apply). You will need the patient’s consent.

Medicare Australia can release a maximum of five numbers and expiry dates per call. For more than five numbers, Medicare Australia has established a fax back service to pharmacists. The Medicare number release form may be used to get the patient's Medicare (or Veterans') card number/s and expiry dates.

The Seemingly Valid Medicare Card form may be used when:

  • the pharmacist has made a claim for payment for a pharmaceutical benefit for a patient, based on a Medicare number that appeared to be valid at the time of the initial claim. However, during processing by Medicare Australia it was found that the Medicare details are invalid, and a 90-day warning was returned to the pharmacist; AND
  • the patient has presented another prescription and cannot provide any alternate Medicare details and the pharmacist is satisfied that the original details provided by the patient are correct.

Note: the pharmacist must have no reason to believe that the patient is not entitled to receive pharmaceutical benefits.

If the above criteria is satisfied, the pharmacist should use the 'Seemingly valid Medicare card' special number, complete and attach the form to the prescription for submission for payment with their next claim to Medicare Australia. Alternatively, pharmacists can choose to photocopy or photograph the Medicare card. The pharmacist is then required to use the same special number, and attach the photocopy or photograph to the prescription for submission for payment in their next claim to Medicare Australia.

Remote Aboriginal Health Services

The supply of pharmaceutical benefit items under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953

To improve access to the PBS, Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services (RAAHS) can use a new electronic order form.

Only RAAHS approved by the Department of Health and Ageing, who have been issued with a six digit approval/registration number and a check digit number, can use the form to request PBS supplies from a community pharmacy or public sector hospital pharmacy.

All orders must be submitted to the pharmacy before the supply is initiated. After supply, the community pharmacy or public sector hospital pharmacy will claim reimbursement from Medicare Australia using the completed order form or a Medicare Australia approved alternative form.

Note: the approval/registration number must appear on all documents associated with the ordering and supply of pharmaceutical benefit items under this arrangement.

The form is available as a pdf file. Because of software restrictions, the information you enter cannot be saved. To get a copy of the new forms as a Microsoft Word document, call the Pharmaceutical Benefits Program branch on 02 6124 6000.

Hospitals

The following forms relate to Hospitals and the PBS.

Approval of a hospital authority to supply pharmaceutical benefits:

Some documents on this page may require the free Adobe PDF reader.

Last updated: 2 July, 2010