Optometrist PBS prescribing
What optometrists need to do
Optometrists endorsed to prescribe under state or territory legislation may apply to Medicare Australia for approval as a PBS prescriber—an authorised optometrist.
To apply for approval as a PBS prescriber, optometrists must complete an application for approval to prescribe medication under the PBS [PDF, 122Kb]
.
Applicants must provide written confirmation that they are endorsed to prescribe medication. This endorsement must be from the optometrists registration authority in the state or territory in which the applicant intends to prescribe pharmaceutical benefits.
When Medicare Australia receives your application and all of the necessary information, the application will be processed. A PBS prescriber number will be issued if the application is approved.
Optometrists approved as PBS prescribers are authorised to write prescriptions for certain medications under the PBS/RPBS from 1 January 2008.
What optometrists need to know
Prescribing in accordance with the PBS restrictions
As an authorised prescriber, it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of, and comply with, the rules and regulations which apply to the PBS. Information on prescribing is available at www.pbs.gov.au
Online PBS education is available at Education for health professionals
Who is eligible for the PBS
- all Australian residents
- people from Italy, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Finland, Norway, Malta, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom (Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with these countries).
Prescription stationery
Personalised PBS prescription forms are used to prescribe medicine listed on the PBS. Supplies of personalised optometrist PBS prescription forms may be obtained free of charge by completing an order form and returning the order form [PDF, 72Kb] to:
Prescription Pad Order Clerk
Pharmaceutical Branch
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9826
Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone 02 9895 3295
Writing prescriptions
- Your PBS prescriber number must be included on a PBS/RPBS prescription.
- Only one item may be prescribed on an optometrist PBS/RPBS prescription.
- The same prescription form is used to prescribe unrestricted, restricted or authority required items.
- Optometrists are responsible for adhering to their state or territory law for every prescription (PBS/RPBS and non-PBS), and to all PBS/RPBS requirements for those prescriptions.
Authority prescriptions
Authority required benefits apply to restricted medicine that requires prior approval from Medicare Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)—identified as authority required.
You can request an approval from Medicare Australia by telephone or mail.
Telephone applications: 1800 888 333
For postal applications, please send the authority prescription to the following address:
REPLY PAID No. 9857
PBS Authority Section
Medicare Australia
GPO Box 9857
In your capital city
Authority prescriptions must include a Medicare Australia or DVA approval number.
An authority approval number will be issued via telephone or mail by Medicare Australia or the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC).
Optometrist items in the Schedule
Authorised optometrists can write PBS/RPBS prescriptions only for the medicine listed in the optometrist section of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (the Schedule).
The table below shows the optometrist PBS list, effective from 1 January 2008. Please refer to the Schedule for further details including quantities, restrictions and repeats.
| Antibiotic eye preparations | Topical ocular lubricants |
|---|---|
| Aciclovir eye ointment | Carbomer 974 ocular lubricating gel |
| Chloramphenicol eye drops | Carbomer 980 eye drops |
| Chloramphenicol eye ointment | Carbomer 980 ocular lubricating gel |
| Sulfacetamide eye drops | Carmellose sodium eye drops |
| Anti-inflammatory agents | Carmellose ocular lubricating gel |
| Fluorometholone eye drops | Hypromellose eye drops |
| Flurbiprofen eye drops | Hypromellose with Carbomer 980 ocular lubricating gel |
| Hydrocortisone eye ointment | Hypromellose with Dextran eye drops |
| Anti-allergy agents | Paraffin compound eye ointment |
| Sodium cromoglycate eye drops | Polyethylene glycol 400 with Propylene glycol eye drops |
| Polyvinyl alcohol eye drops |
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Last updated: 19 February, 2009