Continued dispensing bushfire rules

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has issued an addendum to its continued dispensing guidelines.

The addendum was produced following the announcement of a temporary expansion of continuing dispensing arrangements to ensure affected people are able to continue to receive PBS subsidised medicines when a doctor’s prescription is not immediately available (PD 13 Jan).

Under the expanded arrangements, pharmacists will be able to give patients a standard supply (usually one month’s worth) of a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listed medicine, without a prescription, once in a 12 month period.

The patient must previously have been prescribed this medicine and the pharmacist must be satisfied it is urgently needed.

The supply of medicines under these arrangements relate to payment and claiming for supply of PBS medicines and are subject to a strict set of professional guidelines.

The expanded PBS continued dispensing emergency arrangements came into effect on Mon and will continue until 31 Mar.

These expanded continued dispensing funding arrangements can only be used where there is legal provision to do so in local state and territory regulations.

At this time, NSW, ACT, Victoria and South Australia have enacted measures which allow this to occur in defined circumstances for a defined period of time.

PSA National President, Dr Chris Freeman encouraged members to be familiar with the guidelines and addendum

“PSA has worked with government agencies and our team of experts to ensure pharmacists are properly supported when supporting Australians affected by bushfires through the expanded continued dispensing initiative,” he said.