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15 Maximum quantity (number of units)—ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits (Act s 85A(2)(a), (2A) and (3A))

Purpose of section (1) This section determines, with respect to the writing of prescriptions for the supply of a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit having a pharmaceutical item by authorised prescribers of the benefit: (a) for the purposes of paragraph 85A(2)(a) of the Act—the maximum number of units of the pharmaceutical item that may, in one prescription, be directed to be supplied on any one occasion; and (b) for the purposes of subsection 85A(2A) of the Act—conditions that must be satisfied when writing a prescription; and (c) for the purposes of subsection 85A(3A) of the Act—rules that must be applied when deciding whether to authorise a variation of the application of a determination referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection. Determination of maximum number of units (2) If only one number of units is mentioned in the column of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this instrument headed “Maximum Quantity” in relation to brands of the pharmaceutical item and a kind of authorised prescriber, that number of units is the maximum number of units of the pharmaceutical item for that kind of authorised prescriber for all purposes. (3) If more than one number of units is mentioned in the column of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1 headed “Maximum Quantity” in relation to brands of the pharmaceutical item and a kind of authorised prescriber, then: (a) if a purposes code is mentioned in the column of the table headed “Purposes” in relation to a number of units—that number is the maximum number of units of the pharmaceutical item for that kind of authorised prescriber for the purposes mentioned in the table in Part 1 of Schedule 4 for that purposes code; and (b) if no purposes code is mentioned in that column in relation to a number of units—that number is the maximum number of units of the pharmaceutical item for that kind of authorised prescriber for all purposes other than purposes to which paragraph (a) applies. Conditions for writing prescription (4) If the column of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1 headed “Maximum Quantity” includes a conditions code together with a maximum number of units, it is a condition when writing a prescription to which that maximum applies that writing the prescription must be authorised by the Chief Executive Medicare in accordance with section 19 of this instrument. Rules for authorising variation of maximum number of units (5) If the column of the table in Part 1 of Schedule 1 headed “Variations” includes a variation code in relation to a maximum number of units, the rules mentioned in the column of the table in Part 2 of Schedule 4 headed “Variation Rules” in relation to the variation code must be applied when deciding whether to authorise a variation of that maximum (to the extent that those rules relate to the number of units).

Note: Rules may also relate to the maximum number of repeats.