on this page
Patient eligibility
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with tocilizumab under the National Health Act 1953, section 85 and section 100 for patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
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 tocilizumab.
Section 100 arrangements
Tocilizumab i.v only
This item is only PBS-subsidised for day admitted patients, non-admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending either:
- an approved private hospital
- a public participating hospital
- a public hospital.
You must include the hospital name and provider number on the authority application form. This item isn’t PBS-subsidised for hospital in-patients.
Toxicity and severity descriptors
When demonstrating a patient’s intolerance to prior treatment, use the juvenile idiopathic arthritis toxicity and severity descriptors with the authority application.
Treatment specifics
To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with tocilizumab for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, patients must be treated by a rheumatologist or are under the supervision of a paediatric rheumatology treatment centre.
Authority applications
Applying for initial treatment
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised tocilizumab to treat systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in writing and either:
- upload through Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing, retrialling or recommencing treatment
Applications for continuing, retrialling or recommencing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised tocilizumab for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in writing and either:
- upload through HPOS
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis continuing, retrial or recommencement or demonstration of response PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
You can use this authority application form to submit a demonstration of response to the current PBS-subsidised treatment.
Further information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for further information.