Arthritis - juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The PBS subsidises biological medicines for patients with severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

This includes adalimumab for patients with enthesitis/spondylitis related juvenile idiopathic arthritis and tocilizumab for patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Patient eligibility

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with biological medicines under the National Health Act 1953, section 85 and/or section 100 for patients with severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), enthesitis/spondylitis related JIA and systemic JIA.

Where the term biological medicine appears, it refers to adalimumab, etanercept, tocilizumab and tofacitinib.

Patients must be eligible for the PBS and meet the relevant restriction criteria.

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website outlines the restrictions for prescribing biological medicines.

Section 100 arrangements

Adalimumab (for JIA<18), etanercept (for JIA<18) and tocilizumab IV (for JIA<18, JIA>18 and systemic JIA)

These items are only PBS-subsidised for non-admitted patients, day admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending either:

  • an approved private hospital
  • a public hospital.

These items aren’t PBS-subsidised for public hospital in-patients. You must include the hospital provider number for the authority application.

Treatment specifics

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with biological medicines, patients must be treated by either a:

  • paediatric rheumatologist or under the supervision of a paediatric rheumatology treatment centre - paediatric patients only
  • rheumatologist or clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of rheumatoid arthritis - adult patients only, with a documented history of JIA.

Authority applications

Paediatric patients

Applying for initial treatment

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat paediatric patients with severe active JIA, adalimumab to treat patients with enthesitis/spondylitis related JIA or tocilizumab to treat patients with systemic JIA can be made either:

Applying for initial grandfather treatment with adalimumab for severe active JIA or for enthesitis/spondylitis related JIA

For patients who received non-PBS-subsidised adalimumab treatment before 1 January 2026 for severe active JIA or enthesitis/spondylitis related JIA, apply for initial grandfather authority approval either:

Applying for change or recommencement of treatment for severe active JIA

Applications to change or recommence authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat paediatric patients with severe active JIA can be made either:

Applying for retrial or recommencement of treatment for tocilizumab to treat systemic JIA

Applications to retry or recommence authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised tocilizumab to treat systemic JIA can be made either:

Applying for continuing treatment

Continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with biological medicines is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.

Applying for change of treatment after resolution of critical shortage of tocilizumab

Apply for change of treatment after resolution of critical shortage of tocilizumab to treat paediatric patients with severe active JIA in writing and either:

All written applications must include:

Adult patients with severe active JIA who started PBS treatment before turning 18

Applying for change or recommencement of treatment

Applications to change or recommence authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat adult patients with severe active JIA who commenced PBS treatment prior to turning 18 can be made either:

Applying for continuing treatment

Continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with biological medicines is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.

Adult patients with severe active JIA who started PBS treatment after turning 18

Applying for initial treatment

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat adult patients with severe active JIA who commenced PBS treatment after turning 18 years of age can be made:

All written applications must include:

Applying for change or recommencement of treatment

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications to change or recommence authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat adult patients with severe active JIA who commenced PBS treatment after turning 18 years of age can be made:

All written applications must include:

Applying for continuing treatment

Please note: You don’t need to complete this application in writing when you request PBS authority online.

Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised biological medicines to treat adult patients with severe active JIA who commenced PBS treatment after turning 18 years of age can be made:

All written applications must include:

Applications for subsequent continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with biosimilar brands of biological medicines is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.

Applying for change of treatment after resolution of critical shortage of tocilizumab

Apply for change of treatment after resolution of critical shortage of tocilizumab to treat adult patients with severe active JIA in writing and either:

All written applications must include:

More information

Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.

Page last updated: 1 January 2026.
QC 31956