Pharmacy Daily | Continued Dispensing guide

Medicare Australia has published a new reference guide outlining the PBS requirements for the Continued Dispensing initiatives, which allows pharmacists to continue to supply eligible medicines to a patient when there is an immediate need for the medicine but it is not practical for the patient to obtain a prescription. Under Continued Dispensing, there is no need to get a follow-up prescription, with the initiative complementing existing supply provisions, including “urgent communicated prescriptions” under the PBS and state/territory legislation for emergency supply. Only community pharmacists (from section 90 and section 90A approved suppliers) can supply PBS medicines under Continued Dispensing, and the pharmacist is required to confirm that the patient is an Australian resident and holds a current Medicare card, or is from a country with which Australia has a reciprocal Health Care Agreement. Continued Dispensing currently only applies to oral contraceptives and statins, and pharmacists must also be satisfied that there is an immediate need for the medication and circumstances have prevented the patient from getting a script. Medicines dispensed under the initiative are subject to online PBS claiming for specific reason codes on the Department of Human Services website. CLICK HERE for more info.

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