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Patient eligibility
The PBS subsidises treatment with blinatumomab, dasatinib, imatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This is under sections 85 and 100 of the National Health Act 1953.
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 blinatumomab, dasatinib, imatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib.
Section 100 arrangements
Blinatumomab and inotuzumab ozogamicin
These items are only PBS-subsidised for day admitted patients, non-admitted patient, or patients on discharge who are attending either:
- 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.
Authority applications
Applying for initial treatment
Blintumomab
Apply for initial (induction) authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab for the treatment of ALL 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
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - blintumomab initial (induction) PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Dasatinib
Apply for first line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- upload through HPOS
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - first line - dasatinib initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Apply for second line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- upload through HPOS
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - second line - dasatinib initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Imatinib
Apply for first line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised imatinib to treat ALL by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised inotuzumab ozogamicin to treat ALL in writing and either:
- upload through HPOS
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - inotuzumab ozogamicin initial (induction) PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Ponatinib
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised ponatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- upload through HPOS
- post to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - ponatinib initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing treatment
Apply for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab, dasatinib, inotuzumab ozagamicin and ponatinib either:
- using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with imatinib is Authority Required (Streamlined). It doesn’t need authority approval from us for listed quantities and repeats.
Further information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for further information.