8Prescribing of pharmaceutical benefits

8 Prescribing of pharmaceutical benefits

Writing prescriptions by completing an electronic medication chart

(1) A PBS prescriber may only prescribe a pharmaceutical benefit under this Special Arrangement by creating an electronic medication order within an electronic medication chart in accordance with the requirements of section 41 of the Regulations, as modified by this section.

(2) A prescription for the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit under this Special Arrangement may only be made: (a) for a person receiving residential care at an approved residential care home; and (b) using a transitional conformant electronic medication chart system.

Creating electronic medication orders ‑ generally

(3) Paragraphs 41(2)(c) and 41(2)(g) of the Regulations do not apply to the creation of an electronic medication order within an electronic medication chart.

Note: The exclusion of paragraph 41(2)(g) enables prescriptions using electronic medication orders to be made under the Special Arrangement for pharmaceutical benefits that are referred to in Schedule 8 of the current Poisons Standard (within the meaning of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989). PBS prescribers and approved suppliers remain subject to any restrictions on prescribing or dispensing Schedule 8 drugs in applicable state or territory legislation.

(4) The PBS prescriber must electronically approve the prescription in the electronic medication chart system.

Creating electronic medication orders ‑ authority prescriptions

(5) The electronic medication order must contain each authority approval number or relevant streamlined authority code (if any) for the prescription.

(6) A prescription for the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit made in accordance with this section is, for the purposes of the Regulations (other than section 61) and the Rules, taken, to be a medication chart prescription written in accordance with section 41 of the Regulations.

Prescription in paper‑based form is not required (7) The PBS prescriber is not required to also provide the prescription in paper‑based form.