FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PBS MEDICATION CHART FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS
December 2014
What is the PBS Medication Chart for Public and Private Hospitals Initiative?
The PBS Medication Chart for Public and Private Hospitals Initiative (the Initiative) will
enable the prescribing, dispensing, and claiming of eligible PBS and Repatriation
PBS (RPBS) medicines directly from a patient’s PBS Hospital Medication Chart
(HMC) in public and private hospitals. Use of the PBS HMC will eliminate the need
for a separate (additional) PBS or RPBS stationery form, and the PBS HMC provides
an alternate option for prescribers in the PBS hospital setting.
Why is the Australian Government making these changes?
PBS Medication Charts for Public and Private Hospitals is a 2014-15 Budget measure
announced by the Australian Government. The aim of the Initiative is to reduce
unnecessary PBS and RPBS paperwork for prescribers, pharmacists, and nursing
staff; freeing up more time for health practitioners to spend on patient care.
The Initiative aims to improve patient safety, reducing the risk of dispensing errors
associated with transcribing medicine orders from a medication chart.
How is the chart being developed?
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) is
developing the PBS HMC. Development and trialing of the PBS HMC will be
undertaken in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including prescribers,
pharmacists, hospitals, consumers, software vendors, and state and territory
governments.
When will I be able to use the PBS Hospital Medication Chart?
The PBS HMC will become available as follows (phased implementation):

trial of the paper-based PBS HMC in selected private hospitals from 1 April 2015
and selected public hospitals from 1 May 2015;

trial of the electronic-based PBS HMC in selected private and public hospitals
from mid-2016;

availability of the paper-based PBS HMC (post the trial evaluation) in all private
and public hospitals from June 2016; and

availability of the electronic-based PBS HMC (post the trial evaluation) in all
private and public hospitals from 1 March 2017.
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Tell me more about the trials of the PBS Hospital Medication Chart.
The trials are being undertaken by the ACSQHC in consultation with stakeholders.
The results of the trials will support the evaluation of the Initiative for full
implementation Australia-wide. For further information about the trials, trial-site
selection criteria and trial participation, please visit the ACSQHC website.
Trial data and safety monitoring will be used from the trials to inform and support
full implementation of the Initiative Australia-wide.
Tell me more about phase one (paper-based PBS Hospital Medication Chart).
During Phase One trials, selected hospital sites will trial the use of a paper-based
PBS HMC for PBS and RPBS prescribing, dispensing and claiming.
From 1 July 2016 (post-trial evaluation), all hospitals will be able to use paper-based
PBS HMCs.
Tell me more about Phase Two (electronic-based PBS Hospital Medication Chart).
During Phase Two trials, selected hospital sites will trial the use of an electronicbased PBS HMC for PBS and RPBS prescribing, dispensing and claiming.
The electronic-based PBS HMC aims to support electronic medication management
systems across the Australian healthcare system.
From 1 March 2017 (post-trial evaluation), all hospitals will be able to use electronicbased PBS HMCs.
What are the safety benefits?
The Initiative aims to improve the safety and quality of medication management by:

reducing the risk of medication errors;

enhancing medication management; and

improving continuity of patient care and patient-care transitions.
What are the benefits for patients?

more time for health practitioners to spend on patients clinical care;

improved medication safety;

improved quality use of medicines for improved health outcomes; and

improved, more efficient, and convenient prescribing and dispensing services.
What are the benefits for health providers?
The Initiative aims to reduce the PBS and RPBS administrative burden for health
providers by:

improving the timely supply and claiming of PBS and RPBS medicines;
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
minimising PBS and RPBS duplication of documentation for prescribing,
dispensing and claiming of PBS and RPBS medicines;

allowing hospital staff more time to spend on patient care; and

supporting electronic medication management and clinical decision support
tools.
What is changing for prescribers?
All PBS prescribers will be able to use the PBS HMC for their patients in the PBS
hospital setting.
There will be no changes as to who can prescribe PBS or RPBS medicines. PBS
prescribers retain the option to use PBS and or RPBS stationery forms where
applicable.
PBS prescribers are required to comply with state and territory law, as in force, in
the use of the PBS HMC.
What is changing for pharmacists?
Pharmacists will be able to dispense and claim (using PBS Online) eligible PBS and
RPBS medicines directly from a patient’s medication chart in public and private
hospitals, without the need for a separate (additional) PBS or RPBS stationery form.
Can prescribers still prescribe brand-specific medicines?
Yes. Prescribers will continue to be able to prescribe brand-specific medicines when
prescribing on the PBS HMC.
What PBS medicines can be prescribed on the PBS Hospital Medication Chart?
The Initiative will enable the prescribing, dispensing and claiming of the following
PBS and RPBS medicines:

General Schedule medicines;

Authority Required (STREAMLINED) medicines;

Authority Required (telephone/electronically approved) medicines;

PBS and RPBS discharge medicines (consistent with PBS Reform arrangements);

PBS and RPBS Section 100 Infusible Chemotherapy medicines and Section 100
Highly Specialised Drugs); and

Controlled medicines, e.g. ‘Schedule 8’ medicines (these medicines must only be
prescribed and supplied from a PBS HMC in accordance with State and Territory
legislation).
PBS Reform arrangements remain in place.
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Complex Authority Required (CAR) and Authority Required (written only) PBS and
RPBS medicines must only be prescribed and supplied in accordance with the
Department of Human Services (Medicare) or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
prior approval processes.
Clarification about Complex Authority Required and Authority Required (written
only) processes can be sought from the Department of Human Services (Medicare)
or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (details below):

For Department of Human Services (Medicare) authority prescription approvals,
please contact 1800 888 333

For Department of Veterans’ Affairs authority prescription approvals, please
contact 1800 552 580
Will there be any changes to the PBS eligibility?
No. Patients will continue to pay the PBS patient co-payment contribution. Where a
patient pays a PBS patient co-payment for their PBS or RPBS medicines, the PBS copayment amount will continue to contribute to the patient’s PBS Safety Net Record.
Where do I obtain more information about this Initiative?
Further information about the Initiative can be obtained from the following websites:

The ACSQHC website

The PBS website

The DHS Medicare website

The Prime Minister’s website

The Budget website
More information about the Initiative can also be obtained from the ACSQHC:
Postal Address
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
GPO Box 5480
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone
(Australia) 02 9126 3600
(International) +61 2 9126 3600
Fax
(Australia) 02 9126 3613
(International) +61 2 9126 3613
Email
mail@safetyandquality.gov.au
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