Fosamax+and+PBS+authority

=Fosamax and PBS authority=

// Who is entitled to obtain fosamax on authority and how to get it? //

Treatment as the sole PBS-subsidised anti-resorptive agent for osteoporosis in a patient aged 70 years of age or older with a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) T-score of -3.0 or less. The date, site (femoral neck or lumbar spine) and score of the qualifying BMD measurement must be documented in the patient's medical records when treatment is initiated.
 * Authority required (STREAMLINED) - 2645**

Treatment as the sole PBS-subsidised anti-resorptive agent for established osteoporosis in patients with fracture due to minimal trauma. The fracture must have been demonstrated radiologically and the year of plain x-ray or CT-scan or MRI scan must be documented in the patient's medical records when treatment is initiated. A vertebral fracture is defined as a 20% or greater reduction in height of the anterior or mid portion of a vertebral body relative to the posterior height of that body, or, a 20% or greater reduction in any of these heights compared to the vertebral body above or below the affected vertebral body.
 * Authority required (STREAMLINED) - 2646**

Authority required (STREAMLINED) PBS Prescriptions
Prior approval is not required from Medicare Australia or DVA to prescribe an Authority required (STREAMLINED) item (except where increased quantities and/or repeats are required). Instead the authority prescription form must include a four digit streamlined authority code. This code is listed with the corresponding restriction for each Authority required (STREAMLINED) item and the prescriber must write the code on the authority PBS/RPBS prescription form. An authority prescription for an Authority required (STREAMLINED) item is not valid unless the code is included on the prescription form. Without the streamlined authority code, a pharmacist must not supply the item as a PBS benefit. There are no Authority Required (STREAMLINED) items in the Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits. Authority required (STREAMLINED) PBS prescriptions must be written on an Authority PBS/RPBS Prescription Form, this includes: There are separate arrangements for PBS prescriptions in certain public hospitals. To gain access to pharmaceutical benefits under this arrangement a patient must attend a participating public hospital and be a discharge patient or non-admitted patient. Only a medical practitioner providing medical services within a participating public hospital may prescribe the subsidised medication. The States of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, and the Northern Territory have agreed to implement these arrangements.
 * the pharmacist/patient copy, which records prescriber, patient, and pharmaceutical benefit item details. The prescription is given directly to the patient to be dispensed at their pharmacy;
 * the Medicare Australia/DVA copy which records prescriber, patient, and pharmaceutical benefit item details. After the first dispensing, the Medicare Australia/DVA copy is forwarded to Medicare Australia for processing and payment;
 * the prescriber's copy is kept by the prescriber for 12 months. This copy must record the daily dose, details of the disease, clinical justification for using the item, the patient's age (if the patient is a child) and whether the patient has previously received an authority for this pharmaceutical benefit.

Resources
[|PBS - Bisphosphonates (authority required)]