Streamlined authority process

The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (PBS Schedule) identifies certain items as Authority Required (STREAMLINED). Approved prescribers no longer need to contact us or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to prescribe listed quantities or repeats.

Approved prescribers can find the streamlined authority code in the Schedule, next to the text describing the indications for which the item may be prescribed.

Authority approval number on prescriptions

Authority prescriptions must be annotated with a valid authority approval number by the approved prescriber. The streamlined authority code is published next to the appropriate indication in the PBS Schedule.

Department of Veterans' Affairs approval process

Select Authority Required items are listed in both the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) sections of the PBS Schedule. No Authority Required (STREAMLINED) items are listed in the RPBS Schedule.

RPBS prescriptions can be written with a streamlined authority code. This is because veterans can be prescribed any item in the general section of the PBS Schedule, including Authority Required (STREAMLINED) items, as long as they meet the relevant requirements.

RPBS authority prescriptions can be dispensed with the relevant PBS streamlined authority code endorsed on the prescription.

Increased quantities or repeats

Authority approval is required from us or DVA if the prescription is for an increased quantity or repeats or both. The streamlined authority process will not apply in these circumstances.

Data capture of streamlined authority

To track the use and effectiveness of streamlined authority, approved suppliers must:

• specify the streamlined authority code for each Authority Required (STREAMLINED) item claimed, and
• ensure dispensing software has the capability to record and transmit the streamlined authority code to us

We will return a 'reject' message to approved suppliers where the streamlined authority code does not align with the item number at the date of prescribing the prescription.

Further information

Find out more about the authority process at PBS Authorities.