Key messages
- The Commonwealth Department of Human Services administers claims and approvals of highly specialised drug prescriptions.
- Complex authority required drugs require written authority.
- To prescribe drugs for treatment of HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B, community doctors need to complete a series of special training programs.
The Commonwealth Department of Human Services administers all claims and approval of highly specialised drug (HSD) prescriptions. Where the dose is above the scheduled maximum quantity or number of repeats, authority approvals are also required.
Written authority applications must be made in order to prescribe Complex Authority Required HSDs.
Doctors working in the community are required to complete a series of specialist training programs before prescribing drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and, hepatitis B.
Drug program
All Commonwealth-funded supply of complex authority required drugs requires individual patient authority approval from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services prior to dispensing. The department provides information(opens in a new window) on prescription requirements, arrangements for dispensing and claiming for these drugs.
Authority to prescribe HIV or Hepatitis B drugs
To be eligible to prescribe HIV or Hepatitis B drugs under s. 100 of the National Health Act 1953, community (non-hospital) doctors must complete a series of special training programs, which are run through Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).
More information is available at ASHM.
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