From May 1, doctors prescribing proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for their patients under the PBS will need to take additional steps, following changes to the PBS restriction criteria to comply with clinical guidelines. High dose PPIs are now Authority Required (Telephone) and standard dose PPIs are now Authority Required (Streamlined).
Information about the reason for the changes is available on the PBS website at http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/news/2019/05/changes-to-proton-pump-inhibitor-restriction-level>.
For Authority Required (Telephone) listings, the doctors must write the item on an authority prescription form and gain prior authority approval from the Department of Human Services for PBS subsidisation. Doctors can either:
- call the PBS authority approval telephone line on 1800 888 333 for authority requests; or
- request electronic PBS authority approval through the Online PBS Authorities system via HPOS.
For further information and a step-by-step guide for requesting an online PBS authority read more at: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/serv...
For Authority Required (Streamlined) listings, prescribers must write the item on an authority prescription form and must endorse the prescription with the valid streamlined code. To prepare for new and amended PBS listings prescribers must ensure their prescribing software is up-to-date.
The Department of Human Services has advised that PBS prescriptions written prior to May 1, 2019 for PPIs will still be valid for PBS subsidy for the life of the prescription.
