13Authority required procedures — authorisation

13 Authority required procedures — authorisation 

 (1)  A prescription submitted in accordance with paragraph 12 (1) (a) may be authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare:

 (a) signing his or her authorisation on the prescription; and

 (b) either:

 (i) if the Chief Executive Medicare requires the authorised prescriber to alter the prescription — returning it to the authorised prescriber for alteration before the authorised prescriber gives it to the person in respect of whom it was prepared; or

 (ii) in any other case:

 (A) returning the authorised prescription to the authorised prescriber; or

 (B) sending it to the person in respect of whom it was prepared.

 (2) A prescription submitted in accordance with paragraph 12 (1) (b) may be authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare telling the authorised prescriber by telephone, at the time the Chief Executive Medicare is given details of the prescription, that the prescription is authorised.

 (3) A prescription submitted in accordance with paragraph 12 (1) (d) may be authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare sending his or her authorisation, by electronic communication, to the authorised prescriber.

 (4) If the Chief Executive Medicare authorises a prescription under subsection (2) or (3):

 (a) the Chief Executive Medicare must tell the authorised prescriber the number given by the Chief Executive Medicare to the prescription: and

 (b) the authorised prescriber must:

 (i) mark that number on the prescription; and

 (ii) retain a copy of the prescription for 1 year from the date the prescription was authorised.             

 (5) For paragraph (4) (a), the Chief Executive Medicare must tell the authorised prescriber the number:

 (i) if the authorised prescriber is an authorised optometrist — by telephone; and

 (ii) in any other case — by telephone or by electronic communication.

 (6) A prescription submitted in accordance with paragraph 12 (1) (c) is taken to have been authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare if the authorised prescriber completes the prescription in accordance with the instructions given in the emergency telephone message.