For the purposes of this Scheme, unless a contrary intention appears:
accepted disability means a war‑caused injury or a war‑caused disease, a defence‑caused injury or a defence‑caused disease or a DRCA disability.
Note: war‑caused injury etc is defined in the Act.
Act means the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
approval number means a number allotted by the Secretary or the Minister for Health under section 16 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 to an approval under the National Health Act 1953 of a person described in the section who, under the Scheme, is a Community Pharmacist.
approved hospital means a hospital in respect of which the hospital authority is approved under section 94 of the National Health Act 1953.
Approved Hospital Authority has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
approved information technology requirements means information technology requirements of a kind approved in writing by the Secretary under section 12 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 for the purposes of the provision in those regulations in which the expression is used.
Approved Medical Practitioner means a medical practitioner approved under section 92 of the National Health Act 1953 for the purposes of supplying Pharmaceutical benefits.
approved supplier has the meaning given in Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.
Authorised Midwife has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
Authorised Nurse Practitioner has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
authority prescription means a prescription of a Pharmaceutical benefit for which Prior Approval under section 6 is required.
Authority Prescription Form means a prescription in the form, if any, for an “authority prescription” under the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
Chief Executive Medicare has the meaning given by the Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973.
claims rules mean the rules, in force from time to time, made under subsections 98AC(4) and 99AAA(8) of the National Health Act 1953.
Commission means the Repatriation Commission continued in existence by section 179 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
Community Pharmacist means:
(a) a registered pharmacist approved for the purposes of section 90 of the National Health Act 1953 in charge of a community pharmacy; or
(b) a registered pharmacist approved for the purposes of section 90 of the National Health Act 1953, being the manager of a registered Friendly Society Dispensary; or
(c) an Approved Hospital Authority; or
(d) an Approved Medical Practitioner.
concessional beneficiary has the same meaning it has in section 84 of the National Health Act 1953, in force from time to time.
concessional beneficiary safety net has the same meaning it has in section 99F of the National Health Act 1953, in force from time to time.
concession card has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
continued dispensing supply means the supply of Pharmaceutical benefits in the circumstances in paragraph 16A.
co‑payment, in respect of a Pharmaceutical benefit, means that part of the price of a Pharmaceutical benefit that is borne by the Eligible Person in relation to a Pharmaceutical benefit made available under the Scheme.
deferred supply authorisation means the situation described in section 53 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
Note: generally a deferred supply authorisation occurs where a prescription contains a direction to supply more than 1 Pharmaceutical benefit and the Community Pharmacist to whom the prescription is presented, at the request of the person for whom the prescription is written, defers the supply of one or more of the Pharmaceutical benefits.
Department means the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
dependant, in relation to a concessional beneficiary, has the meaning given by Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.
dispensed price means:
(a) for a Pharmaceutical benefit included in the PBS and supplied under the Scheme — the dispensed price for the Pharmaceutical benefit in the PBS;
Note: the dispensed price in the PBS is described as “Dispensed Price for Max.Qty”
(b) for a Pharmaceutical benefit included in the RPBS Schedule and supplied under the Scheme — the dispensed price for the Pharmaceutical benefit in the RPBS Schedule;
Note: the dispensed price in the RPBS Schedule is described as “Dispensed Price for Max.Qty”
(c) for a Pharmaceutical benefit not included in the PBS or the RPBS Schedule and supplied under the Scheme — the dispensed price for the Pharmaceutical benefit worked out under the RPBS Schedule.
Note: see the information in the RPBS Schedule under the headings: “Pricing of Non‑Schedule Ready Prepared Items” and “Pricing of Non‑Schedule Extemporaneously Prepared Items”.
DRCA disability means an injury (within the meaning of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988):
(a) for which the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission has accepted liability to pay compensation under that Act; and
(b) for which the person with the injury is eligible to be provided with treatment under Part V of the Act.
Note 1: In the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988 the definition of injury includes a disease (see section 5A of that Act).
Note 2: Section 85(2A) of the Act provides eligibility for treatment of a person with an injury under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988.
Drugs or Medicines means goods for therapeutic use as defined for human use by the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement means the written agreement of that name between the Commonwealth and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia about the delivery of PBS medicines and related services, as in force from time to time.
electronic medication chart has the meaning given by subsection 11B(8).
electronic prescription means a prescription that is prepared and submitted:
(a) in accordance with approved information technology requirements (if any), by means of an eligible electronic communication; and
(b) in accordance with the appropriate form approved by the Secretary under:
(i) subparagraph 40(2)(c)(ii) (prescriptions other than medication chart prescriptions) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017; or
(ii) subsection 41(5) (medication chart prescriptions) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
eligible electronic communication means:
(a) an electronic communication of a kind approved by the Secretary under section 11 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 for the purposes of the provision in which the expression is used; or
(b) if no such approval is in force for the purposes of the provision in which the expression is used—any electronic communication.
Eligible Person means:
(a) a person who holds a Repatriation Health Card ‑ For All Conditions; or
(b) a person who holds a Repatriation Health Card ‑ For Specific Conditions; or
(c) a person who holds a Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card.
entitlement card has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
Explanatory Notes means:
(a) the document forming part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that is SECTION 1‑ EXPLANATORY NOTES; and
(b) the document forming part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that is the RPBS Explanatory Notes;
being the version of the documents in the form in which they exist from time to time.
general patient safety net has the same meaning it has in section 99F of the National Health Act 1953, in force from time to time.
healthcare identifier has the same meaning as in the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010.
healthcare provider organisation has the same meaning as in the Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010.
income support payment is a service pension (defined in subsection 5Q(1) of the Act or an income support supplement (referred to in Part IIIA of the Act).
income support payment under the Social Security Act 1991 means a payment referred to in the definition of “income support payment” in subsection 23(1) of the Social Security Act 1991.
Medical Practitioner has the same meaning as “medical practitioner” has in the Health Insurance Act 1973.
medicare number has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
medication chart has the meaning given by subsection 11B(6).
medication chart prescription has the meaning given by section 11B.
Minister for Health means the Minister administering the National Health Act 1953.
MRCA supplement means a payment under section 300 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.
paper‑based prescription means a prescription that is prepared in duplicate in accordance with subsection 40(2) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
PBS or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme means the document entitled “SCHEDULE OF PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS” with International Standard Serial Number 1037‑3667, being the version of the document in the form in which it exists from time to time.
PBS prescriber has the meaning given by subsection 84(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
PBS prescriber number means the number given by the Chief Executive Medicare to a person who may prescribe a pharmaceutical benefit under the National Health Act 1953.
PBS Schedule means the collection of instruments made under Part VII of the National Health Act 1953 (the Act) by the Minister who administers that Act, as those instruments are in force from time to time.
pension supplement has the same meaning it has in subsection 5Q(1) of the Act, in force from time to time.
pharmaceutical allowance means the component of the veterans supplement or pension supplement or MRCA supplement or war widow/war widower pension that is to assist with the purchase of Pharmaceutical benefits, the calculated value of which is referred to in paragraph 37 (pharmaceutical allowance component) of Part 5A.
pharmaceutical benefit has a drug has the same meaning as in Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.
Pharmaceutical benefits has the same meaning as “pharmaceutical benefits” in subsection 91(9) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
pharmaceutical item has the meaning given in Part VII of the National Health Act 1953.
pharmaceutical reimbursement means the financial amount described in paragraphs 33‑35 of Part 5A.
Prior Approval means the prior approval of the Commission.
relevant streamlined authority code, for a pharmaceutical benefit that is prescribed, means the streamlined authority code that is part of:
(a) the circumstances determined under paragraph 85(7)(b) of the National Health Act 1953 for the Pharmaceutical benefit; or
(b) the conditions determined under subsection 85A(2A) of the National Health Act 1953 for the Pharmaceutical benefit.
Repatriation Health Card ‑ For All Conditions means an identification card, or written authorisation, provided to:
(a) a person eligible under section 85 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 for treatment, subject to the Treatment Principles, for all injuries or diseases; or
(b) a person eligible under section 86 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 for treatment, subject to the Treatment Principles, for all injuries or diseases.
Repatriation Health Card ‑ For Specific Conditions means an identification card, or written authorisation, provided to a person who is eligible:
(a) under section 85 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 for treatment, for war‑caused or defence‑caused injuries or diseases, and certain specified conditions; or
(b) for treatment under a determination made under section 88A of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card means an identification card entitled 'Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card' which is provided to a person pursuant to section 93X of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and which entitles the person to pharmaceutical benefits in accordance with this Scheme.
Note: Part VA of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (Act) has the effect of deeming an eligible Commonwealth veteran, an eligible allied veteran, and an eligible allied mariner, to be entitled to pharmaceutical benefits under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme as if such person was eligible for treatment comprised of pharmaceutical benefits under Part V of the Act.
Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits means all of the content in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the part with the heading “Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme”.
repeat authorisation form means the form mentioned in subparagraph 52(3)(a)(i) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
residential care service means a residential care home as defined in subsection 10(2) of the Aged Care Act 2024.
Note: Subsections 10(3), (4) and (5) of the Aged Care Act 2024 are applicable when applying subsection 10(2) of that Act.
revoked scheme means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1995 No.12).
RPBS means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
RPBS Explanatory Notes means the document forming part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that is the RPBS Explanatory Notes being the version of the document in the form in which it exists from time to time.
RPBS prescriber means an Approved Medical Practitioner, an Authorised Midwife or an Authorised Nurse Practitioner.
Note: an RPBS prescriber who is an Authorised Midwife or an Authorised Nurse Practitioner may only prescribe a Pharmaceutical benefit listed on the PBS and a prescription by an Authorised Midwife or an Authorised Nurse Practitioner for a Pharmaceutical benefit that is not available on the PBS is not recognised under the Scheme, even if the Pharmaceutical benefit is available under the Scheme on the prescription of, say, an Approved Medical Practitioner.
RPBS Schedule means the document forming part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that is the Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, being the version of the document in the form in which it exists from time to time.
safety net, in respect of its application to a person under this Scheme, means the concessional beneficiary safety net or general patient safety net, whichever amount first applies to the person for the purposes of section 84C of the National Health Act 1953, in force from time to time.
Note: under section 84C of the National Health Act 1953 a concession card or entitlement card is issued when a person reaches their Safety Net. The card is issued for the “relevant entitlement period”. The relevant entitlement period is the remainder of the calendar year after the card is issued.
Scheduled item means an item in the PBS Schedule or the RPBS Schedule.
Scheme means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Secretary has the meaning given in Part 1 of the National Health Act 1953.
social security pension supplement means a rate or amount worked out under section 20A of the Social Security Act 1991.
special arrangement means the National Health (COVID‑19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020 (the instrument) made by the Minister for Health under section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 to modify the arrangements for the supply of Pharmaceutical benefits under Part VII of that Act.
Standard Prescription Form means a prescription prepared in accordance with subsection 40(2) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
Note: a Standard Prescription Form does not include a medication chart prescription.
supply certification form means the form of that name in the claims rules.
Treatment Principles is the written document prepared by the Repatriation Commission, approved by the Minister under section 90 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, and in force from time to time.
veterans supplement means the payment under section 118A of the Act.
war‑caused or defence‑caused injuries or diseases means the injuries or diseases described in, respectively, section 9 and 70 of the Act; and in relation to a person with a DRCA disability means the person’s injury (within the meaning of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988) was caused by, or arose out of, the person’s employment in the Defence Force that is covered by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence‑related Claims) Act 1988.
war widow/war widower pension means a payment received by a war widow/war widower —pensioner comprised of:
(a) a pension under Part II or IV of the Act at a rate determined under or by reference to subsection 30(1) of the Act; or
(b) a lump sum mentioned in paragraph 234(1)(b) of the MRCA or a weekly amount mentioned in that paragraph.
Note: MRCA is defined in subsection 5Q(1) of the Act as the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.
Note: references in the Scheme to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections and subsections are interchangeable. For example a reference to “paragraph 10” of the Scheme is the same as a reference to “section 10” of the Scheme and vice versa.