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Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (No. R43/2013)

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Australian Government
Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
REPATRIATION PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SCHEME
 
Instrument 2013 No.R43
 
 
I, MICHAEL RONALDSON, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, pursuant to section 91(3) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, approve this instrument made by the Repatriation Commission.
Dated this 26th               day of November                 2013
Michael Ronaldson
……………………….............................................
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
 
 
The Repatriation Commission, pursuant to section 91 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (the Act):
(a) revokes the instrument made under section 91(1) of the Act known as the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1995 No.12); and
(b) hereby prepares a scheme for the provision of pharmaceutical benefits to persons eligible to be provided with treatment under Part V of the Act.
Dated this  13th              day of November                 2013
Simon Lewis…………Shane Carmody……….Major General Mark Kelly
SIMON LEWIS              SHANE CARMODY             Major General Mark Kelly
                                                                                                               AO DSC
    PRESIDENT              DEPUTY PRESIDENT                       COMMISSIONER
 
 
 
CONTENTS
 
1A.Name of Scheme........................................................................................................6
1B.Commencement..........................................................................................................6
1C.Transitional-general....................................................................................................6
1D.Transitional-pharmaceutical reimbursement..............................................................6
1.   Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme........................................................... 6
2.   Purpose of the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme................................... 6
Part 1 — Interpretation........................................................................................................... 6
3.    Definitions................................................................................................................. 6
4.   Notification of certain matters in Explanatory Notes...............................................13
5.   Department to notify of certain matters as agent of the Commission...................... 13
Part 2 — Prescribing of Benefits  Procedure by Medical Practitioners.............................. 13
 
6..  Prior Approval............................................................................................................ 13
7.   Restrictions................................................................................................................. 14
8.   Prescribing provisions................................................................................................. 15
9.   Application of PBS Schedule restrictions and RPBS Schedule restrictions.............. 15
10.  Prescriptions to conform with State or Territory Law............................................... 15
11. Form of prescriptions.................................................................................................. 15
11B. Medication Chart Items............................................................................................16
11C. Supply Certification Form........................................................................................17
12. When prescriptions are invalid................................................................................... 19
13. Maximum quantity and repeats allowed.................................................................... 19
14. Prescribing outside the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule........................................ 20
15. Medical Practitioner subject to this Scheme............................................................... 20
Part 3 — Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits........................................................................ 20
16A. Continued Dispensing..............................................................................................21
16. Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits — Procedure by Community Pharmacists......... 23
17. Substitution of lesser priced alternative brand of drug.............................................. 23
18. Community Pharmacist to be satisfied as to entitlement........................................... 23
19. Dispensing of deleted items....................................................................................... 24
20. Use of forms as notified by the Department or the Commission............................... 24
21. Financial responsibility............................................................................................... 24
22. Refund in certain circumstances................................................................................. 25
23. Expenses incurred in obtaining Pharmaceutical Benefits while not in receipt of a pharmaceutical allowance................................................................................................................ 25
Part 4 — Claims by Community Pharmacists....................................................................... 26
Lodgement of Claims by Community Pharmacists................................................... 26
24A Paragraph 24 not apply..............................................................................................26
24.......................................................................................................................................26
24B Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefit on Basis of Medication Chart Prescription........ 27
25. Claims Requirements & Payment .............................................................................. 30
Part 5 — Payments to Community Pharmacists................................................................... 30
26. Dispensing fee payable to Community Pharmacists................................................... 30
27. Dispensing fee payable to Approved Medical Practitioners and Approved Hospital Authorities 30
28. Other Fees — similar PBS pharmaceutical benefit.................................................... 30
29. Other Fees — notified rates....................................................................................... 30
30. Fees not payable in some circumstances..................................................................... 31
31. Community Pharmacist not entitled to demand or receive payments........................ 31
32. Community Pharmacist to issue receipt where certain payments received................ 31
Part 5A — Pharmaceutical Reimbursement……………………………………..................31
33. Financial responsibility for pharmaceutical reimbursement…………………………32
34. Pharmaceutical reimbursement compensation for out-of-pocket expenses....…….…32
35. Amount of pharmaceutical reimbursement.……………………………….…...…….32
36. Eligibility for payment of pharmaceutical reimbursement……………………..……32
37. Calculation of pharmaceutical allowance component………...…………………..…33
38. Payment of pharmaceutical reimbursement………….…………………….……...…34
38A. Five year limit on payment of pharmaceutical reimbursement ................................34
39. Working out pharmaceutical reimbursement………………………………………...35
40. Uncounted co-payment………………………………………………………………35
Part 5B — Under Co-payment Data Collection.....................................................................35
40A. Giving information....................................................................................................35
Part 6 — Miscellaneous........................................................................................................... 36
41. Standards     ……………………………………………………………...………               ..36
42. Editions of monographs and standards...................................................................... 36
43. Order of precedence................................................................................................... 37
44. Discretionary powers.................................................................................................. 37
45. Keeping Documents................................................................................................... 37
46. Agreement with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia..................................................... 38
Schedule 1 Incorporated Documents.................................................................................39
 
 
This is the real copy
Name of Scheme
 
1A.      This instrument is the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
 
Commencement
 
1B.      This instrument commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
 
Transitional-General
 
1C.      Any process under the revoked scheme that had not been finalised before the commencement of this Scheme is to be completed under this Scheme as if it had commenced under this Scheme.
 
Transitional-pharmaceutical reimbursement
 
1D.      For the purpose of working out a pharmaceutical reimbursement, a co-payment by an Eligible Person for a Pharmaceutical benefit under the revoked scheme, that could have been counted for a pharmaceutical reimbursement under the revoked Scheme but in respect of which a pharmaceutical reimbursement had not been made immediately before the commencement of this Scheme, is taken to be a co-payment for a Pharmaceutical benefit under this Scheme.
1.         Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
1.         The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is authorised by, and subject to, section 91 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.
2.         Purpose of the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
2.         The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme enables Community Pharmacists to supply Pharmaceutical benefits to Eligible Persons.
 
Part 1 — Interpretation
 
3.         For the purposes of this Scheme, unless a contrary intention appears:
 
“Act” means the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;
 
“accepted disability” means a war-caused injury or a war-caused disease, a defence-caused injury or a defence-caused disease or a SRCA disability.
 
Note: war-caused injury etc is defined in the Act.
 
“approval number” means a number allotted by the Secretary under subregulation 8A(1) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 to an approval under the National Health Act 1953 of a person described in the subregulation who, under the Scheme, is a Community Pharmacist;
 
“approved electronic communication” means an electronic communication of a kind approved in writing by the Secretary under regulation 5E of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 for the purposes of the provision in those regulations in which the expression is used.
 
“approved information technology requirements” means information technology requirements of a kind approved in writing by the Secretary under regulation 5F of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 for the purposes of the provision in those regulations in which the expression is used.
 
“Approved Hospital Authority” means a hospital authority approved under section 94 of the National Health Act 1953 for the purposes of supplying Pharmaceutical benefits;
 
“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 Form” means a prescription in one of the forms specified in paragraph 13(3)(a) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
 
“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 regulation 26A of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
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;
 
“Diagnostic Agents” means Agents intended to facilitate the determination of human disease and/or human physiological states;
 
“Drugs” or “Medicines” means “goods for therapeutic use” as defined for human use by the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989;
 
“electronic prescription” means a prescription that is prepared and submitted:
        (a)    in accordance with approved information technology requirements (if any), by means of an approved electronic communication; and
        (b)    in accordance with a form approved by the Secretary under sub‑subparagraph 19(1)(a)(iia)(B) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
 
“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 the text entitled “Explanatory Notes” and the text entitled “RPBS Explanatory Notes” that is published in the document, Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits for Approved Pharmacists and Medical Practitioners, having the International Standard Serial Number 1037-3667, and in force on the date for the document in Schedule 1, to the extent that that text is not inconsistent with this Scheme;
 
“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;
 
“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 prescription” means a prescription mentioned in paragraph 11B(1);
 
“MRCA supplement” means a payment under section 300 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004;
 
“paper‑based prescription” means:
 
(a)        a medication chart prescription; or
(b)        a prescription other than a medication chart prescription that is prepared in duplicate in accordance with subparagraph 19(1)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
 
“paperless claim for payment” means a claim for a payment
from the Commonwealth, in relation to the supply of a
Pharmaceutical benefit:
 
(a) using the Claims Transmission System, within the
meaning given by subsection 99AAA (1) of the National Health Act 1953; and
 
(b) to which, or in which, prescriptions, repeat authorisations
or deferred supply authorisations are not required to be
attached or included.
 
“PBS” means the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme authorised under the National Health Act 1953;
 
“PBS prescriber” has the meaning it has in subsection 84(1) of 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 benefits” has the same meaning as “pharmaceutical benefits” in subsection 91(9) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986;
 
“pharmaceutical reimbursement” means the financial amount described in paragraphs 33-35 of Part 5A.
 
“prescription” means a paper-based prescription or an electronic prescription, and includes a prescription in an Authority Prescription Form and a medication chart prescription.
 
“Prior Approval” means the prior approval of the Commission.
“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 eligible under section 85 of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 for treatment, subject to the Treatment Principles, for war-caused or defence-caused injuries or diseases, and certain specified conditions;
 
"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.
 
“repeat authorisation form” means the form mentioned in
subparagraph 26 (1A) (a) (i) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960, which is used, among other purposes, to support a claim for a payment from the Commonwealth under section 99AAA of the National Health Act 1953 in relation to a supply of a pharmaceutical benefit;
 
“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” means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme”.
 
“RPBS Schedule” means the schedule of Pharmaceutical benefits prepared by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs entitled “Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits” in force on the date for the document in Schedule 1;
 
“residential care” has the meaning given by section 41–3 of the Aged Care Act 1997;
 
“residential medication chart” has the meaning given by paragraph 11B(5);
 
“revoked scheme” means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (1995 No.12);
 
“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.
“Secretary” has the meaning given in Part 1 of the National Health Act 1953.
 
“Scheme” means the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
 
“social security pension supplement” means a rate or amount worked out under section 20A of the Social Security Act 1991;
 
“Scheduled item” means an item in the PBS Schedule or the RPBS Schedule;
 
“SRCA disability” means an injury (within the meaning of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation 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 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 Act 1988.
 
“Standard Prescription Form” means a prescription prepared in accordance with subparagraph 19(1)(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
 
Note: a Standard Prescription Form does not include a medication chart prescription.
 
“streamlined authority code”, for a Pharmaceutical benefit, means the streamlined authority code for the Pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in the Declaration under subsection 85 (2) of the National Health Act 1953, or the Determination under sections 85, 85A and 88, of that Act;
 
“supply certification form”: see paragraph 11C.
 
“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 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.
 
“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 SRCA disability means the person’s injury (within the meaning of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation 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 Act 1988.
3A.      Notification of certain matters in the Explanatory Notes
4.         Where it is provided for the Department or the Commission to notify of certain matters, the publication of the Explanatory Notes shall be taken to constitute such notification to the extent that the Explanatory Notes are relevant and are not inconsistent with other notification given by the Department or the Commission.
3B.      Department to notify of certain matters as agent of the Commission
5.         Where it is provided that the Department may notify of certain matters, the Department may only do so for and on behalf of the Commission, as its agent.
 
Part 2 — Prescribing of Benefits
Procedure by Medical Practitioners

4..        Prior Approval
6.         (a)        The Commission may approve any matters requiring “Prior                                     Approval”; and
 
(b)        Prior Approval must be sought, in advance, in accordance with an Authority Prescription Form.
6.         Restrictions
7.         Restrictions apply to the prescribing of certain items. These include:
 
            (a)        items — quantities and repeats: those listed in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule;
 
            (b)        surgical appliances and other treatment aids: surgical appliances and other treatment aids provided under the Treatment Principles may not be prescribed unless specifically listed in the RPBS Schedule;
 
            (c)        admixtures: the following restrictions apply to admixtures:
 
            (i)         admixture of two or more ready‑prepared items into a single combined form, or the addition of one or more supplementary ingredients to a ready‑prepared item, is not recognised as a Pharmaceutical benefit;
 
(ii)        the extemporaneous prescribing of two or more official formulary preparations in a single combined form, or the addition of one or more supplementary ingredients to an official formulary preparation, is a recognised Pharmaceutical benefit; and
 
               (iii)       where one or more of the components of a preparation specified in subsubparagraph (ii) are non‑RPBS Schedule or non-PBS Schedule items, Prior Approval is required for their prescribing;
 
            (d)       conformity with standards: no drug or therapeutic substance shall be prescribed unless it conforms with:
 
            (i)         the specific or general standards as determined by the relevant Minister under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989; or
 
(ii)        the British Pharmacopoeia, the United States Pharmacopoeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary, or a prescribed Pharmacology text of international standing;
 
            (e)        basis for prescribing: the prescribing of therapeutic substances other than on the clinical diagnosis of a Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife shall be invalid;
 
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.
 
            (f)        approval for therapeutic use: it is invalid to prescribe:
 
            (i)         an item that is not approved for therapeutic use in the treatment of human illness by the relevant Commonwealth, State or Territory Government agencies, or
 
(ii)        an item for use if it is not in accordance with the terms and conditions specified by the relevant Government agencies in approving the item as a therapeutic substance;
 
            (g)        Prior Approval for non-conforming items: any drug or medicine intended for use other than in conformity with the requirements in subparagraph (d) requires Prior Approval;
           
(h)        PBS Schedule restricted items: the prescribing of PBS Schedule restricted items is to comply with the restrictions relating to the prescribing of such items as indicated in the PBS Schedule unless Prior Approval is obtained to prescribe otherwise;
 
(j)         RPBS Schedule restricted items: the prescribing of RPBS Schedule restricted items under this Part is to comply with the restrictions relating to the prescribing of such items as indicated in the RPBS Schedule unless Prior Approval is obtained to prescribe otherwise;
 
            (k)        Prior Approval for non-Schedule items: the prescribing of an item not included in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule requires Prior Approval.
7.         Prescribing provisions
8.         The PBS Schedule and RPBS Schedule are the primary references for the prescribing of Pharmaceutical benefits.
8.         Application of PBS Schedule restrictions and RPBS Schedule restrictions
9.         Restrictions specified in the PBS Schedule and RPBS Schedule which limit supply of items to a particular class of person, or are reserved for specified purposes or require an authority to prescribe, apply unless Prior Approval is obtained to prescribe otherwise.
9.         Prescriptions to conform with State or Territory Law
10.       For a prescription to be recognised by the Commission it must conform with the provisions of State or Territory law.
10.       Form of prescriptions
11.       Who can write Prescriptions
 
(1) Prescriptions are to be written by a Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife and except where inconsistent with the Scheme are to:
 
(a) satisfy the requirements for prescriptions in the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960; and
 
(b) in the case of a prescription written by an Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife — only be for a Pharmaceutical benefit the person is permitted to prescribe under the National Health Act 1953 (including under the instruments under that Act).
 
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.
 
Item in residential medication chart is prescription   
 
11B   Medication Chart Items
 
(1) A completed item in a residential medication chart is a prescription (a medication chart prescription) if the chart contains the information set out for the chart in a condition determined under paragraph 93A (2) (b) of the National Health Act 1953 save that any variation to that information, as set out in the chart, that denotes a connection to the Scheme does not prevent an item in the chart from being a prescription.
 
(2) However, a completed item in a residential medication chart is not a medication chart prescription if it provides for the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit to more than one person.
 
(3) A medication chart prescription must not be prepared using a computer program that operates, or may operate, to indicate on a prescription by default that only the brand of Pharmaceutical benefit specified in the prescription is to be supplied.
 
(4) If an item in a residential medication chart requires a streamlined authority code (if any) to be entered, the code is the streamlined authority code that is part of:
 
(a) the circumstances determined by the Minister under
paragraph 85 (7) (b) of the National Health Act 1953 for the Pharmaceutical
benefit that is prescribed; or
 
(b) the conditions determined by the Minister under
subsection 85A (2A) of the National Health Act 1953 for the Pharmaceutical benefit that is prescribed.
 
(5) In this paragraph:
 
completed item in a residential medication chart means a
section of the chart:
 
(a) in which the medical practitioner prescribing the
Pharmaceutical benefit has:
 
(i) entered the information about the Pharmaceutical
benefit that the section requires the medical
practitioner to enter; and
 
(ii) written the date of prescribing; and
 
(iii) written his or her signature; and
 
(b) in which appears the letters ‘PBS’ or ‘RPBS’.
 
Examples for subparagraph (a) (i)
 
Particulars sufficient to identify the Pharmaceutical benefit being prescribed, and the dose, route and frequency of administration of the Pharmaceutical benefit.
 
Note An item in a residential medication chart may set out fields that only need to have information filled in if the information is relevant to that prescription.
 
residential medication chart means a chart:
 
(a) for prescribing, and recording the administration of, a Pharmaceutical benefit to an Eligible Persons receiving residential care; and
 
(b) subject to (1), that contains the standard fields and characteristics for the chart, as set out in a condition determined under paragraph 93A (2) (b) of the National Health Act 1953.
 
Note A residential medication chart may also be used for prescribing, and recording the administration of, drugs, medicines and other substances that are not a Pharmaceutical benefit.
 
Supply Certification Form
 
11C     Supply Certification Form Criteria
 
(1)  A supply certification form means a form
that:
 
(a) is included by a Community Pharmacist in a paperless claim
for payment as certification that the supply of a
Pharmaceutical benefit is made in accordance with the
Scheme, and except where the Scheme is inconsistent with the National Health Act 1953, that Act; and
 
(b) includes the following details:
 
(i) the name and approval number of the Community Pharmacist;
 
(ii) the address of the premises at or from which the
Pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in (iv) is supplied, being premises at or from which the Community Pharmacist is approved under the National Health Act 1953 to supply a Pharmaceutical benefit;
 
(iii) the number used by the Community Pharmacist to identify the claim
period;
 
(iv) for each type of prescription that is covered by the
claim—the serial numbers of the Pharmaceutical
benefits that have been supplied and that are the
subject of the claim, identified using a range of
serial numbers for each of the following categories:
 
(A) general patients;
 
(B) concessional beneficiaries, dependants of
concessional beneficiaries and holders of
concession cards;
 
(C) holders of entitlement cards;
 
(v) the total number of claims for each category
mentioned in (iv) (A) to (C);
 
(vi) (A) a certification that the Pharmaceutical benefit
mentioned in (iv) has been supplied in accordance with the Scheme and the National Health Act 1953 and instruments made under that Act; or
 
(B) a certification that the Pharmaceutical benefit
mentioned in (iv) has been supplied in accordance with the Scheme and, to the extent the National Health Act 1953 or instruments thereunder do not conflict with the Scheme, that Act and the instruments made under it;
 
(vii) a declaration that the information in the form is
correct, signed by the Community Pharmacist or an authorised
representative of the pharmacist;
 
(viii) particulars that identify the person signing the form
under (vii).
 
Example for (b) (iv)
 
A medication chart prescription is a type of prescription.
11.       When prescriptions are invalid
12.       A prescription is not a valid Pharmaceutical benefit if the Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife:
 
(a)        except where the prescription is a medication chart prescription, prescribes a Pharmaceutical benefit for a person in respect of whom another prescription for the same benefit has been written on the same day by the same Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife; or
 
            (b)        prescribes, on the one form, a Pharmaceutical benefit that is a drug of addiction and another Pharmaceutical benefit, and directs that the supply of either Pharmaceutical benefit is to be repeated (but, if no repeats of either item are ordered, the prescription may be accepted provided that this is in accordance with the relevant State or Territory law); or
 
(c)        prescribes a narcotic drug for the Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife writing the prescription; or
 
            (d)       prescribes on a Standard Prescription Form an item not listed in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule; or
 
            (e)        prescribes on a Standard Prescription Form a benefit in contravention of any of the restrictions set out in paragraph 7; or
 
(f)        where the prescription is by an Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife for an Eligible Person — prescribes a Pharmaceutical benefit that is not available to the Eligible Person under the PBS.
 
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.
12.       Maximum quantity and repeats allowed
13.       The quantity and repeats for Scheduled items are to be confined to those specified in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule.  However, where inadequate, the Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife may seek Prior Approval to prescribe a quantity greater, or a greater number of repeats, than the maximum listed in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule.
 
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.
 
 
13.       Prescribing outside the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule
14.       If a Medical Practitioner is of the clinical opinion that there are no therapeutic alternatives available in the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule for the treatment of an Eligible Person, the Medical Practitioner may seek Prior Approval from the Commission to prescribe an item not contained in those Schedules.
14.       Medical Practitioner subject to this Scheme
15.       Where a Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife prescribes for an Eligible Person, the Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Scheme and the Explanatory Notes.
 
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.
Part 3 — Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits

15.       Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits — Procedure by Community Pharmacists
16.       Subject to paragraph 16A (continued dispensing), a Community Pharmacist
 is required to supply a Pharmaceutical benefit only upon the surrender of:
 
            (a)        a valid Standard Prescription Form; or
 
            (b)        a valid Authority Prescription Form; or
 
(c)        a valid repeat authorisation form presented with a duplicate prescription in accordance with the requirements under the PBS; or
 
(d)        a valid medication chart prescription;
 
Note: There was a trial of medication chart prescribing in 20 or so selected residential care facilities in NSW.  The Department of Health & Ageing managed the trial and obtained relevant amendments to the legislation it administers in order for medication charts to be recognised as prescriptions.  The trial was for the period August 2012-January 2013. 
 
From 19 March 2013, medication chart prescribing will be implemented in a phased approach.
 
 
provided that such documents are in accordance with State or Territory law and this Scheme and the Explanatory Notes, and with any requirements which the Department or the Commission, from time to time, notifies.
16.       Continued Dispensing
16A.  When Pharmaceutical benefits may be supplied by Community Pharmacists without prescription
(1) A Community Pharmacist may, at or from premises in respect of which the pharmacist is for the time being approved under the National Health Act 1953, supply a Pharmaceutical benefit to an Eligible Person without a prescription for that supply if:
(a) the Pharmaceutical benefit is covered by the Scheme and Schedule 1 to the instrument (the instrument) made under subsection 89A(3) of the National Health Act 1953; and
(b) the supply is made in accordance with conditions that are specified in the instrument as if the supply under the Scheme is a supply covered by the instrument and as if a reference in the instrument to:
“approved pharmacist” includes a Community Pharmacist;
“PBS prescriber” includes a prescriber of a Pharmaceutical benefit under the Scheme;
“pharmaceutical benefit” or “pharmaceutical item” includes a Pharmaceutical benefit under the Scheme;
“Part VII of the Act” includes the Scheme;
“subsection 89A(1) of the Act”, for dispensing in a previous 12 month period, includes a reference to this section in the Scheme;
“paragraph 89A(3)(a) of the Act” includes a reference to this section in the Scheme; and
Note: as at 1 August 2012 the instrument under ss. 89A(3) is the National Health (Continued Dispensing) Determination 2012.
(c) the supply otherwise conforms to this section.
(2) If a Community Pharmacist makes a supply in accordance with (1), then this Scheme applies in relation to the supply as if the Eligible Person had presented the pharmacist with a prescription that had been written in accordance with this Scheme.
(3) The supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit in accordance with this section is a continued dispensing supply.
 
(4)  A Community Pharmacist must not supply a Pharmaceutical benefit under this section unless the pharmacist writes on the repeat authorisation form for the supply:
(a) the pharmacist’s name and approval number under regulation 8A of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960; and
            (b) an identification number for the supply; and
(c) the date on which the Pharmaceutical benefit is supplied by the pharmacist.
 
Note: a failure to observe these requirements means the supply is not a continued dispensing supply.
 
(5) For a continued dispensing supply a Community Pharmacist or Approved Medical Practitioner must collect the following information at the time of supply:
             
(a) information about whether the patient is, at the time of the supply:
                          (i)    a concessional beneficiary or a dependant of a concessional beneficiary; or
                         (ii)    the holder of a concession card or entitlement card;
               (b)    for a person mentioned in subparagraph (a) (i)—the number specified on a card, issued by the Commonwealth, as an entitlement number (however described) in relation to the person;
                (c)    for a person mentioned in subparagraph (a) (ii)—the number of the concession card or entitlement card.
(6) The Community Pharmacist or Approved Medical Practitioner must include the information collected under subsection (5) in the claim for a payment from the Commonwealth in relation to the supply using the Claims Transmission System, within the meaning given by subsection 99AAA (1) of the National Health Act 1953.
Note: a failure to observe these requirements means the supply is not a continued dispensing supply.
 
(7) For the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit by a Community Pharmacist on the basis of a previous prescription from a PBS prescriber or RPBS prescriber, if the PBS prescriber or RPBS prescriber directed in the prescription the supply on one occasion of a quantity or number of units of the Pharmaceutical benefit allowable under subsection 88(6) of the National Health Act 1953, instead of directing a repeated supply, the direction does not apply for the purposes of the continued dispensing supply.
 
(8) If, for a continued dispensing supply, a Pharmaceutical benefit is supplied a number of times greater than the number specified in the prescription, then subject to subregulation 25(2) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 (the regulations), subregulation (3) or (4) of those regulations applies as if:
             
(a) the person had presented the supplier with a prescription that:
                          (i)    had been written by a PBS prescriber or RPBS prescriber in accordance with the National Health Act 1953, the regulations and the Scheme; and
                         (ii)    did not include a medicare number; and
                        (iii)    did not direct a repeated supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit; and
(b) subparagraphs (3)(b)(ii) and (c)(ii) or (4)(b)(ii) and (c)(ii), of the regulations, were omitted, and the words ‘immediate supply necessary’ were required to be written on the repeat authorisation form for the supply; and
(c)  subparagraphs (3)(b)(iii) and (c)(iii) or (4)(b)(iii) and (c)(iii), of the regulations, were omitted, and the supplier were required to sign the repeat authorisation form mentioned in paragraph (b).
 
(9) A Community Pharmacist must use a repeat authorisation form for the purposes of making a claim for a payment from the Commonwealth under section 99AAA of the Act in relation to a continued dispensing supply, however, the pharmacist must not use the form for authorising a repeated supply of the pharmaceutical benefit under this section.
 
(10) For a continued dispensing supply a Community Pharmacist is to obtain, from the person receiving the Pharmaceutical benefit (whether or not for the person’s own use), a written acknowledgement that the person has received the benefits but if it is not practicable for the pharmacist to obtain, from the person a written acknowledgement, the pharmacist must write on the repeat authorisation form for the supply:
                         (a)    the date on which the Pharmaceutical benefit were supplied by the pharmacist; and
                         (b)    the reason why it was not practicable for the pharmacist to obtain the written acknowledgement.
Substitution of lesser priced alternative brand of drug
17.       Where a valid prescription, issued by a Medical Practitioner, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife, prescribes a brand of drug listed on the PBS or RPBS Schedule, a Community Pharmacist may substitute, with the approval of the prescriber, a lesser priced alternative PBS or RPBS listed brand of the drug in lieu of the brand prescribed and shall endorse the original, duplicate and repeat authorisation accordingly.
 
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.
 
17.       18.       Community Pharmacist to be satisfied as to entitlement
 
(a)        A Community Pharmacist shall not supply a Pharmaceutical benefit to a person on terms that are appropriate for the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit to a holder of a Repatriation Health Card - For All Conditions, a Repatriation Health Card - For Specific Conditions or a Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card, unless the Community Pharmacist is satisfied that the person is entitled to receive the Pharmaceutical benefit on those terms.
 
                        (b)        Without limiting the generality of subparagraph (a), a Community Pharmacist may refuse to supply a Pharmaceutical benefit to a person on terms that are appropriate for the supply of the Pharmaceutical benefit to a holder of a Repatriation Health Card - For All Conditions , a Repatriation Health Card - For Specific Conditions or a Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card, unless the person produces such a card to the Community Pharmacist that indicates that the person is entitled to receive the Pharmaceutical benefit on those terms.
18.       Dispensing of deleted items
19.       Prescriptions, including repeat authorisations, for items deleted from the RPBS Schedule or PBS Schedule may not be dispensed as Pharmaceutical benefits as from the date of effect of deletion, unless the prescriptions for the items comply with Prior Approval arrangements under this Part.
20.       Use of forms as notified by the Department or the Commission
20.       When supplying a Pharmaceutical benefit under this Scheme a Community Pharmacist will use and issue such forms, as are notified by the Department or the Commission from time to time, in the manner notified by the Department or the Commission.
23.       21.       Financial responsibility
(1)     In respect of each Pharmaceutical benefit provided to an Eligible Person under this Scheme, the Commission will accept financial responsibility for:
            (a)        subject to (b) all of the dispensed price but the co-payment that would be payable by the person if the person were a concessional beneficiary; or
 
Note 1: (a) deems the person to be a concessional beneficiary for the purposes of working out the co-payment.
 
Note 2: co-payments not covered by the pension supplement amount, veterans supplement or MRCA supplement or war widow/war widower pension may be reimbursed under Part 5A up to the safety net amount for a person.
 
(b)        if the safety net applies to the person, all of the                                              dispensed price.
24.      
22.       Refund in certain circumstances
 
(1) Where:
 
            (a)        a Community Pharmacist charges an Eligible Person an amount in respect of the provision of a Pharmaceutical benefit; and
 
            (b)        information indicating the person’s eligibility under this Scheme was not supplied to the Community Pharmacist; and
 
            (c)        the Commission is satisfied that, in the circumstances, the person should be treated as if the relevant information had been supplied,
           
the person is entitled to be paid by the Commonwealth an amount equal to any amount that the person paid that would not have been payable if the relevant information had been supplied.
25.       23.       Expenses incurred in obtaining Pharmaceutical Benefits while not in receipt of a pharmaceutical allowance
 
(1) Where a person would have been eligible to receive a pharmaceutical allowance under paragraph 118A(1)(c) of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 during a period, but the Department:
 
            (a)        did not have the information needed to enable the Commission to make payment of the pharmaceutical allowance; and
 
            (b)        has obtained that information since that period and after 30 June 1992; and
 
the person:
 
            (c)        was not in receipt of that allowance during that period; and
 
            (d)       has incurred expenses in obtaining Pharmaceutical benefits during that period which could be obtained under this Scheme; and
 
            (e)        has provided material which satisfies the Commission that the person has incurred those expenses,
 
the Commission may reimburse the person for any or all of those expenses.  The maximum amount which may be reimbursed is the amount that the person would have been entitled to receive by way of pharmaceutical allowance during that period had the Department had the information needed to enable the Commission to make payment of the allowance.
 
Part 4 — Claims by Community Pharmacists

26.       Lodgement of Claims by Community Pharmacists
 
24A.    Paragraph 24 not apply
 
(1) Paragraph 24 does not apply in relation to the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart prescription. 
 
(2) A claim for payment in relation to the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart prescription is to be made accordance with section 99AAA of the National Health Act 1953 (paperless claim for payment).
 
Note: a claim using the Claims Transmission System within the meaning given by subsection 99AAA(1) of the National Health Act 1953 is a paperless claim for payment – see paragraph 25(2).
 
24.       Claims by Community Pharmacists under this Part shall be made in accordance with section 99AAA of the National Health Act 1953 as though references in that section, and in the rules made under that section which relate to the supply of and payment for Pharmaceutical benefits under that Act and its Regulations, were references to the supply of, and payment for, Pharmaceutical benefits, except that:
 
            (a)        prescriptions for the supply of Pharmaceutical benefits under this Part shall be marked in the S section or S sections (as defined in those rules) with one or more serial numbers allotted in respect of each Pharmaceutical benefit commencing at “R1” in each claim and continuing consecutively in respect of that claim;
 
            (b)        these prescriptions shall be collected into one bundle, separate to the four bundles provided for in those rules, with the prescriptions sorted into the order of the serial numbers allocated under subparagraph (a), with the least serial number at the top of the bundle; and
 
            (c)        the information to be provided to the Secretary to the Department that administers the National Health Act 1953, in respect of each supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit shall include a Form Category (within the meaning of the schedule to those rules) with a value of “8” where the Pharmaceutical benefit was supplied on an original authority prescription or “9” where the Pharmaceutical benefit was supplied on a repeat authority prescription, and a Payment Category (within the meaning of that schedule) with a value of “4”.
27.       
24B.  Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefit on Basis of Medication Chart Prescription
 
(1) This paragraph applies in relation to the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart prescription.
 
(2) A Community Pharmacist may supply a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart prescription only if:
 
(a) a copy of the residential medication chart is given to the Community Pharmacist; and
 
(b) the residential medication chart is written in accordance with any requirements for the chart in the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 and any conditions determined under paragraph 93A (2) (b) of the National Health Act 1953, except where those requirements and conditions inconsistent with the Scheme; and
 
(c) the date on which the Pharmaceutical benefit is supplied by the Community Pharmacist is:
 
(i) during the period of validity of the residential
medication chart; and
 
(ii) is no later than the stop date (if any) indicated in the prescription; and
 
(d) the Community Pharmacist writes on the copy of the residential medication chart the following for the supply:
 
(i) the Community Pharmacist’s name and approval number under
regulation 8A of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960;
 
(ii) an identification number for the supply;
 
(iii) the date on which the Pharmaceutical benefit is supplied.
 
(3) For paragraph (2) (c), the period of validity of a residential medication chart:
 
(a) starts on the day in a calendar month (the first calendar month) when the first prescription for a Pharmaceutical benefit is written in the residential medication chart; and
 
(b) ends on the last day of the third calendar month that starts after the first calendar month.
 
Example
 
The first prescription is written in a residential medication chart on 11 June.
The period of validity of the residential medication chart starts on 11 June and ends on 30 September.
 
Note calendar month is defined in section 2B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
 
(4) A Community Pharmacist may supply up to a maximum quantity of a pharmaceutical item or Pharmaceutical benefit more than once on the basis of a particular medication chart prescription for the Pharmaceutical
benefit only if:
 
(a) the prescription indicates that an ongoing supply of the Pharmaceutical benefit is authorised for the period of validity of the chart; or
 
(b) the prescription indicates a stop date for the supply of the Pharmaceutical benefit and, based on the dose and frequency of administration of the Pharmaceutical benefit indicated in the prescription, more than one supply of a maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical item or Pharmaceutical benefit is needed before the stop date is reached.
 
(4A) Paragraph 13 of the Scheme and paragraph 85A(2)(a) of the National Health Act 1953 apply in relation to maximum quantities of pharmaceutical items or a Pharmaceutical benefit.
 
(5) If paragraphs (4) (a) and (b) do not apply, a Community Pharmacist may only supply the quantity of the Pharmaceutical benefit needed to give effect to the prescription, up to a maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical item or pharmaceutical benefit.
 
Note The following information entered in the prescription may also indicate the quantity of the pharmaceutical benefit that is needed:
 
(a) the dose and frequency of administration of the Pharmaceutical benefit;
 
(b) the date of prescribing, or the start date (if any) for administration of the
Pharmaceutical benefit;
 
(c) the stop date (if any) for administration of the Pharmaceutical benefit.
 
(6) However, for a supply:
 
(a) on the basis of a prescription mentioned in
paragraph (4) (a); or
 
(b) mentioned in subsection (5);
 
a Community Pharmacist may supply up to a maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical item or Pharmaceutical benefit even if the period of validity of
the residential medication chart will end before administration
of that quantity in accordance with the prescription would finish.
 
(7) A Community Pharmacist that is an Approved Hospital Authority must not supply a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart
prescription.
 
(8) For a supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart
prescription a Community Pharmacist or Approved Medical Practitioner must collect the following information at the time of supply:
             
(a) information about whether the patient is, at the time of the supply:
                          (i)    a concessional beneficiary or a dependant of a concessional beneficiary; or
                         (ii)    the holder of a concession card or entitlement card;
               (b)    for a person mentioned in subparagraph (a) (i)—the number specified on a card, issued by the Commonwealth, as an entitlement number (however described) in relation to the person;
                (c)    for a person mentioned in subparagraph (a) (ii)—the number of the concession card or entitlement card.
(9)   The Community Pharmacist or Approved Medical Practitioner must include the information collected under subsection (8) in the claim for a payment from the Commonwealth in relation to the supply using the Claims Transmission System, within the meaning given by subsection 99AAA (1) of the National Health Act 1953.
 
Note: a failure to observe these requirements means the supply is not a supply on the basis of a medication chart prescription.
 
(10) If a Pharmaceutical benefit is supplied on the basis of a medication chart prescription a number of times greater than the number specified in the prescription, then subject to subregulation 25(2) of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960 (the regulations):
 
                (a)    subregulation (1) of the regulations does not apply; and
               (b)    subregulation (3) or (4) of the regulations applies as if:
                          (i)    the supply is made to the facility providing the residential care to the person for whom the prescription was written; and
                         (ii)    the words ‘immediate supply necessary’ and the supplier’s signature were required to be written on the copy of the residential medication chart given to the supplier.
 
25.     Claims Requirements & Payment
 
(1) Payment under this Scheme is subject to compliance with
paragraph 24B or 24, as the case requires. 
 
(2) For a paperless claim for payment, payment is subject to the Community Pharmacist including a completed supply certification form in the paperless claim for payment.
 
Part 5 — Payments to Community Pharmacists

28.       Dispensing fee payable to Community Pharmacists
26.       The dispensing fee payable to Community Pharmacists (excluding Approved Medical Practitioners, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife and Approved Hospital Authorities) for the supply by them, under this Scheme, of Pharmaceutical benefits in the form of ready prepared items or of extemporaneously prepared items, shall be the fee payable to pharmacists under the PBS for the supply by them of a Pharmaceutical benefit of similar form.
 
29.       Dispensing fee payable to Approved Medical Practitioners and Approved Hospital Authorities etc
27.       The dispensing fee payable to Approved Medical Practitioners, Approved Hospital Authorities, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife for the supply by them, under this Scheme, of Pharmaceutical benefits, in the form of ready prepared items or of extemporaneously prepared items, shall be the fee payable to Approved Medical Practitioners, Approved Hospital Authorities, Authorised Nurse Practitioner or Authorised Midwife under the PBS for the supply by them of a Pharmaceutical benefit of similar form.
 
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.
 
30.       Other Fees — similar PBS pharmaceutical benefit
28.  Where a Pharmaceutical benefit is provided which is not covered by paragraphs 26 or 27, payment is to be made in accordance with the fee payable under the PBS for provision of a similar Pharmaceutical benefit.
31.       Other Fees — notified rates
29.       Where a Pharmaceutical benefit is provided which is not covered by paragraphs 26, 27 or 28, payment is to be made in accordance with such conditions and at such rates as the Department or the Commission from time to time notifies.
32.       Fees not payable in some circumstances
30.       The fees payable under paragraphs 26, 27, 28 or 29, may not be payable to a Community Pharmacist where that person does not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 18 and supplies Pharmaceutical benefits to a person who is not an Eligible Person.
33.       Community Pharmacist not entitled to demand or receive payments
31.       A Community Pharmacist is not entitled to demand of, or receive from, a person in receipt of a Pharmaceutical benefit, payment in money or a valuable consideration for goods and services rendered under this Scheme except:
 
            (a)        for goods or services that are provided in an emergency; or
 
            (b)        for payment of an after-hours fee; or
 
            (c)        for payment for packaging material, postage or freight; or
 
            (d)       for payment that represents the required payment under the PBS of the price difference between the drug prescribed and supplied and the lowest priced brand of the same drug listed on the PBS Schedule; or
 
            (e)        where payment represents the difference between the Commonwealth’s financial responsibility for the provision of the Pharmaceutical benefit and the dispensed price of the Pharmaceutical benefit supplied.
34.       Community Pharmacist to issue receipt where certain payments received
32.       Where a payment is received, under any of subparagraphs 31(a), (b), (c) or (d), from a person in receipt of a Pharmaceutical benefit, the Community Pharmacist is required to issue that person an official receipt which states:
 
            (a)        the goods and/or services provided; and
 
            (b)        the date of receipt of those goods and/or services by the person.
 
                   Part 5A — Pharmaceutical Reimbursement
 
Definitions:
           
In this Part:
 
“member” means a person eligible under the MRCA Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the payment known as the “pharmaceutical reimbursement”.
 
“veteran” means an Eligible Person eligible for payment of a pharmaceutical reimbursement.
33. The Commission may, subject to this Part, accept financial responsibility for the pharmaceutical reimbursement.
 
Note: if the Commission accepts financial responsibility for a cost in relation to the provision of a Pharmaceutical benefit to an Eligible Person, the Commonwealth pays that cost.
34. The pharmaceutical reimbursement is a financial amount that would compensate an Eligible Person for out-of-pocket expenses:
(a) that the person incurred in respect of a Pharmaceutical benefit provided under this Scheme; or
(b) that the person incurred in respect of a Pharmaceutical benefit provided other than under this Scheme but provided on or from a date when the Commission accepted liability to provide treatment to the person under the Act.
 
Note 1: under the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 words in the singular number (e.g. Pharmaceutical benefit) include the plural and words in the plural number include the singular.
 
Note 2: paragraph (b) covers what are known as “MEPIs” (Medical Expenses Privately Incurred).  Under the Act eligibility for treatment can be backdated for 3 months before a claim for pension is received and treatment costs incurred in that period e.g. co-payments for Pharmaceutical benefits, may be met by the Department.
 
35. The amount of pharmaceutical reimbursement is worked out under 39.
 
36. Eligibility for Payment of Pharmaceutical Reimbursement
 
            (1) To be eligible for payment of the pharmaceutical reimbursement an Eligible Person must:
 
      (a) have rendered qualifying service; and
 
      (b) suffer from an accepted disability; and
 
      (c) receive pension under Part II or Part IV of the Act in             respect of the accepted disability.
 
(2)        For the purposes of (1)(c), a person is taken to receive pension under Part II or Part IV of the Act if, apart from section 25A, Division 5A of Part II and section 74 of the Act, the person would receive a rate of pension greater than nil.
Calculation of annual value of pharmaceutical allowance component of Pension Supplement, Veterans Supplement, MRCA supplement
 
37.       The annual value of the pharmaceutical allowance component is calculated as follows:
 
(a)        for a veteran in receipt of veterans supplement or MRCA supplement at different times throughout the year, the amount of $6 per fortnight, indexed according to section 198F of the Act since September 2009 (i.e. once annually since 1 January 2010), calculated at a daily rate and valued according to the number of days in the calendar year veterans supplement or MRCA supplement was payable;
 
(b)        subject to (c), for a veteran in receipt of an income support payment or an income support payment under the Social Security Act 1991 that, respectively, attracts pension supplement, or social security pension supplement greater than the basic amount of pension supplement, the amount of $6 per fortnight, indexed according to Division 18 of Part IIIB of the Act since September 2009 (i.e. each 20 March and 20 September commencing 20 March 2010), calculated at a daily rate and valued according to the number of days in the calendar year pension supplement was payable;
                       
                        Note: this provision could also apply to a veteran who is a member of a couple.
 
(c)        for a veteran in receipt of pension supplement who is a member of a couple:
 
(i) if the veteran's partner does not receive an income support payment that attracts pension supplement or an income support payment under the Social Security Act 1991 that attracts social security pension supplement greater than the basic amount of pension supplement — 50% of the amount in (b); or
            (ii) if the veteran and partner are an illness separated couple— the   amount in (b); or
            (iii) if the veteran and partner are not an illness separated couple but the veteran's partner is a veteran or a member — 50% of the amount in (b);
 
(d)       for a veteran who is a war widow/war widower —pensioner, the amount of $6 per fortnight, indexed according to Section 198 of the Act since September 2009 (i.e. each 20 March and 20 September commencing 20 March 2010), calculated at a daily rate and valued according to the number of days in the calendar year the person was a war widow/war-widower —pensioner.
 
Note: a pharmaceutical allowance component calculated under (d) may be in addition to a pharmaceutical allowance component calculated under (b) or (c) and the sum of all the pharmaceutical allowance components could reduce the amount of the pharmaceutical reimbursement.
 
Note: the following terms are defined in the Act:
 
“member of a couple” - 5E(2).
“partner” – 5E(1).
“war widow/war-widower —pensioner” – 5Q(1).
38. Payment of Pharmaceutical Reimbursement
 
(1) On and after 1 January 2013 the pharmaceutical reimbursement is payable to a person eligible for it under this Part.
 
(2) Subject to (3), the pharmaceutical reimbursement is payable in the first quarter in each calendar year in respect of co-payments the person made for a Pharmaceutical benefit under this Scheme in the previous calendar year – not being a calendar year before 1 January 2012.
 
Note: calendar year is defined in section 2B of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
 
(3) The pharmaceutical reimbursement is not payable for a person in the first quarter in a calendar year as mentioned in (2) if the data necessary to calculate the payment for the person is not available to the Department in which case the pharmaceutical reimbursement is payable to the person as soon as practicable after the data is available.
 
38A. Five Year Limit on Payment of Pharmaceutical Reimbursement
 
(1) Unless the Commission is of the opinion that there are special circumstances, a pharmaceutical reimbursement shall not be paid in respect of co-payments incurred by a person more than 5 calendar years before the Commission decision to accept financial responsibility for the pharmaceutical reimbursement for the person.
 
(2) If the Commission decides there are special circumstances in relation to a person, then it is to determine a date on and from which co-payments are to be counted for the pharmaceutical reimbursement for the person.
39. Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Calculator
 
(1) The pharmaceutical reimbursement for an Eligible Person is worked out as follows:
 
Step 1 add the co-payments for the Pharmaceutical benefits incurred by the person in the previous calendar year (sum of co-payments) up to the threshold of payments according to the safety net and disregarding any uncounted co-payment.
 
Step 2 compare the sum of co-payments with the sum of the pharmaceutical allowance component of the veterans supplement, MRCA supplement, pension supplement and war widow/war widower pension payable to the person in respect of the previous calendar year.
 
Step 3 if the sum of co-payments (amount 1) exceeds the sum of the pharmaceutical allowance component of the veterans supplement, MRCA supplement, pension supplement and war widow/war widower pension payable (amount 2), the amount by which amount 1 exceeds amount 2 is the pharmaceutical reimbursement for the person.
 
Note: the amount of any of these payments may be zero.
 
40.  Uncounted Co-Payment
 
(1) For the Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Calculator an uncounted co-payment is a co-payment for a Pharmaceutical benefit where the co-payment is not counted for the purposes of the safety net applying to the person.
 
Note: included here are co-payments for Pharmaceutical benefits dispensed under the “Safety Net 20 Day Rule” (subsection 84C(4AA)) of the National Health Act 1953.
 
Part 5B — Under Co-payment Data Collection
40A.    Giving information
(1)     A Community Pharmacist who gives information to the Secretary in relation to the supply, under the Scheme, of a Pharmaceutical benefit by the pharmacist to an Eligible Person, is taken to have given that information under, and for the purposes of, the Scheme, provided that:
 
(a) no claim for payment is made by the Community Pharmacist on the Commission or Department for dispensing the Pharmaceutical benefit; and
(b) the dispensing price of the pharmaceutical benefit is less than, or equal to, the co-payment that would have been paid by the Eligible Person for the pharmaceutical benefit if it had been dispensed at a price for which a co-payment is payable; and
 
(c) the information is given in accordance with the requirements, to the extent applicable, that apply under section 98C of the National Health Act 1953 to an approved supplier giving information to the Secretary in relation to the supply to a person of a pharmaceutical benefit, as if references in section 98C to an approved supplier and a pharmaceutical benefit are references to, respectively, a Community Pharmacist and a Pharmaceutical benefit and the pharmaceutical benefit has been supplied under the Scheme.
 
Note: a Community Pharmacist includes an Approved Hospital Authority.
 
Part 6 — Miscellaneous
35.       Standards
 
41.       The minimum acceptable standard for a Pharmaceutical benefit is that described in the following documents:
 
            (a)        the British Pharmacopoeia or the Pharmaceutical Codex as amended and authorised by regulations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989;
 
            (b)        the regulations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 which relate to specific standards for drugs;
 
            (c)        the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary which describe drugs and medicinal preparations;
 
            (d)       previous editions of the British Pharmacopoeia, Pharmaceutical Codex or the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary which describe drugs and medicinal preparations; and
 
            (e)        the Extra Pharmacopoeia, the European Pharmacopoeia, the United States Pharmacopoeia or similar pharmaceutical texts of international standing which describe drugs.
36.       Editions of monographs and standards
42.       The monographs and standards contained in the latest authorised editions of the documents listed in paragraph 41 take precedence over earlier editions unless a specific edition is specified.
37.       Order of precedence
43.       The order of precedence for drug monographs and standards is in the same order as set out in paragraph 41, with the monographs of the British Pharmacopoeia having precedence over all others and thereafter in accordance with State or Territory law.
41.
45.     Keeping documents
 
(a) Subject to (b) and (c) a Community Pharmacist is to retain such prescriptions, forms, records and other documents in relation to the supply of a Pharmaceutical benefit under the Scheme as are mentioned in regulation 32 of the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 1960, for the periods mentioned in regulation 32, as if a reference to a pharmaceutical benefit in that regulation is a reference to a Pharmaceutical benefit under the Scheme;
 
(b) If the Community Pharmacist supplies Pharmaceutical benefits to a person under section 16A of the Scheme (continued dispensing) the pharmacist is to keep the following information for at least 2 years from the date on which the Pharmaceutical benefits were supplied by the pharmacist:
                          (i)    the information that supports the claim for payment made under section 99AAA of the National Health Act 1953 in relation to the supply of the Pharmaceutical benefits;
                         (ii)    the information, about the supply of the Pharmaceutical benefits, that is given to the PBS prescriber or RPBS prescriber who most recently prescribed the Pharmaceutical benefits to the person.
 
(c) If a Community Pharmacist supplies a Pharmaceutical benefit on the basis of a medication chart prescription, the pharmacist is to keep a copy of the residential medication chart in which the prescription is written for at least 2 years from the date on which the last Pharmaceutical benefit was supplied by the pharmacist on the basis of a prescription in the residential medication chart.
 
3.         Agreement with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia
46.       The Commission may enter into agreements concerning the administration of this Part with The Pharmacy Guild of Australia and, subject to this Part, shall abide by such agreements.
 
SCHEDULE 1 – INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS
 
The following documents, in force on 1 November 2013, are incorporated-by-reference into the Scheme:
 
List A
 
Explanatory Notes RPBS Schedule the British Pharmacopoeia the United States Pharmacopoeia the European Pharmacopoeia the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary a prescribed Pharmacology text of international standing the Pharmaceutical Codex as amended and authorised by regulations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
 
List B
 
The following documents are incorporated-by-reference into the Scheme:
 
previous editions of the British Pharmacopoeia which describe drugs and medicinal preparations previous editions of the Pharmaceutical Codex as amended and authorised by regulations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 which describe drugs and medicinal preparations previous editions of the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary which describe drugs and medicinal preparations.
 
Note: paragraph 43 provides that the later versions of certain documents in list A take precedence over earlier versions of the documents in List B