Growth Hormone deficiency - paediatric patients

Patient eligibility

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with somatrogon and somatropin under the National Health Act 1953, section 100 for paediatric patients with severe growth hormone deficiency.

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 somatrogon and somatropin.

Section 100 arrangements

Somatrogon and somatropin

This item is PBS-subsidised under Section 100 and can be dispensed by a:

• community pharmacy
• participating PBS reform public hospital pharmacy
• private hospital pharmacy
• dispensing doctor.

Treatment specifics

To be eligible for PBS-subsidised treatment with somatrogon or somatropin, patients must be treated by either a:

• specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology, or by a specialist or consultant physician in general paediatrics in consultation with a nominated specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology
• medical practitioner in consultation with a nominated specialist or consultant physician in paediatric endocrinology, or by a medical practitioner in consultation with a nominated specialist or consultant physician in general paediatrics.

You can write prescriptions for brand specific somatropin. This must be written on the prescription and include the form and strength. For computer generated prescriptions, you’ll need to put the active ingredient first, followed by the brand name, form and strength.

The same brand, including the form and strength, must be used for both the original and repeats. If you need to change brands during a patient’s treatment, you must apply for a new authority approval from Services Australia.

Authority applications

You can get immediate PBS authority assessment results for Growth Hormone Authority requests. You can submit your authority application through the Online PBS Authorities system.

You can access the Online PBS Authorities system through:

• Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
• your upgraded clinical and prescribing software when available.

Use the Online PBS Authorities system to:

• get an immediate authority assessment
• reduce the waiting period for approved authority prescriptions
• submit authority applications 24/7
• cancel or amend an approved application that hasn’t been dispensed
• ask about your previous authority requests for a period of up to 2 years.

Use your Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account to access the Online PBS Authorities system. PRODA provides secure access to online government services. If you don’t have an account yet, register now.

Find out how you can join the other clinicians that are now using the Online PBS Authorities system.

Video demonstration

Watch this video to see how to request a Growth Hormone online authority.

Watch this video to see how to edit a rejected Growth Hormone online authority.

Applying for initial treatment

Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somatrogon or somatropin to treat severe growth hormone deficiency can be made either in:

• real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
• writing and use HPOS Form upload
• writing and mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.

All written applications must include the completed:

• authority prescription form or forms
• growth hormone paediatric - initial authority application form
• relevant attachments.

Applying for continuing, change of drug or recommencement of treatment

Applications to recommence, change drug or continue authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somatrogon or somatropin to treat severe growth hormone deficiency can be made either in:

• real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
• writing and use HPOS Form upload
• writing and mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.

All written applications must include the completed:

• authority prescription form or forms
• growth hormone paediatric - continuing authority application form
• growth hormone paediatric - continuing as a reclassified patient authority application form
• growth hormone paediatric - change or recommencement authority application form
• growth hormone paediatric - recommencement as a reclassified patient authority application form
• relevant attachments.

Applying for initial grandfather treatment

Applications for initial grandfather authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised somatrogon to treat short stature with slow growth (SSSG) or short stature associated with biochemical growth hormone deficiency (BGHD) can be made either in:

• real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
• writing and use HPOS Form upload
• writing and mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.

All written applications must include the completed:

• authority prescription form or forms
• growth hormone paediatric - Somatrogon - initial grandfather authority application form
• relevant attachments.

Calculating the amount of drug to prescribe

Somatrogon

To calculate the appropriate amount of drug to prescribe, use the ‘Somatrogon prescribed maximum quantity by weight’ chart on the PBS website.

Somatropin

To calculate your patient’s correct quantity and weekly dose use the ‘growth hormone program dose and cartridge quantity calculator for SOMATROPIN ONLY’ on the PBS website.

More information

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