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Patient eligibility
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with blinatumomab, dasatinib, imatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib under the National Health Act 1953, section 85 and section 100 for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
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 non-admitted patients, day admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending:
- an approved private hospital
- a public participating hospital.
These items aren’t PBS-subsidised for public hospital in-patients.
Treatment specifics
Dasatinib
To be eligible for first-line initial or second-line initial PBS-subsidised treatment with dasatinib, patients must be treated by a medical practitioner.
To be eligible for maintenance of first complete remission or second line continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with dasatinib, patients must be treated by either a:
- medical practitioner
- nurse practitioner where patient care is being shared with a medical practitioner and the prescription continues existing therapy with this medicine.
Ponatinib
To be eligible for initial PBS-subsidised treatment with ponatinib, patients must be treated by a medical practitioner.
To be eligible for continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with ponatinib, patients must be treated by either a:
- medical practitioner
- nurse practitioner where patient care is being shared with a medical practitioner and the prescription continues existing therapy with this medicine.
Authority applications
Applying for initial treatment
Blinatumomab
Apply for initial (induction) authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - blinatumomab - initial (induction) authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Dasatinib
Apply for first-line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib as induction and consolidation therapy to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia first line - dasatinib - initial (induction and consolidation) authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Apply for second-line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia second line - dasatinib - initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Imatinib
Applications for first-line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised imatinib as induction and consolidation therapy to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised inotuzumab ozogamicin to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions.
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - inotuzumab ozogamicin initial (induction) authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Ponatinib
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised ponatinib to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions.
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - ponatinib - initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for initial grandfather treatment
Blinatumomab
For patients who received non-PBS-subsidised blinatumomab treatment before 1 March 2025 for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, apply for initial grandfather authority approval in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions.
- the completed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - blinatumomab - initial grandfather authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab, dasatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia 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 imatinib as maintenance of first complete remission is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.
More information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.