Patient eligibility
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with lapatinib, pertuzumab, trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine under the National Health Act 1953, sections 85 and 100 for patients with breast cancer.
Patients must be eligible for the PBS and meet the relevant restriction criteria.
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website outlines restrictions for prescribing lapatinib, pertuzumab, trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine.
Section 100 arrangements
Pertuzumab, trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine are only PBS-subsidised for non-admitted patients, day admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending:
- an approved private hospital
- a public participating hospital
- a public hospital.
These items aren’t PBS-subsidised for hospital in-patients. You must include the hospital name and provider number on the authority application form.
Trastuzumab
All PBS-subsidised treatment with trastuzumab is Authority Required (Streamlined). It doesn’t need prior authority approval from us for listed quantities and repeats.
Authority applications
Early HER2 positive breast cancer
Applying for initial treatment
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised trastuzumab emtansine to treat early HER2 positive breast cancer can be made in writing and either in:
- real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- writing and upload through Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
- writing and post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- Early HER2 positive breast cancer - initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised trastuzumab emtansine to treat early HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer
Applying for initial treatment
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised lapatinib to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made in writing and either in:
- real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- writing and upload through HPOS
- writing and post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer - lapatinib - initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised pertuzumab or trastuzumab emtansine to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised pertuzumab or trastuzumab emtansine to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with lapatinib is Authority Required (Streamlined). It doesn’t need prior authority approval from us for listed quantities and repeats.
More information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.