COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Instrument number PB 10 of 2010
Amendment special arrangements under subsection 100(1) of the National Health Act 1953
 
I, LINDA JACKSON, Assistant Secretary, Access and Systems Branch, Department of Health and Ageing, delegate of the Minister for Health and Ageing, make this instrument under subsection 100(1) of the National Health Act 1953.
Dated                                           23 February                                  2010
Signed
 
 
LINDA JACKSON
Assistant Secretary
Access and Systems Branch
Pharmaceutical Benefits Division
Department of Health and Ageing
Amendment Special Arrangements — Highly Specialised Drugs Program
1              Commencement
                This instrument commences on 1 March 2010.
2              Amendment of PB 125 of 2009
                Schedule 1 amends PB 125 of 2009.
Schedule 1                   Amendments
[1]                 Schedule 1, item dealing with Infliximab
under the headings:
Chronic plaque psoriasis (whole body) — initial treatment 1
Chronic plaque psoriasis (whole body) — initial treatment 2
Chronic plaque psoriasis (whole body) — continuing treatment
Chronic plaque psoriasis (face, hand, foot) — initial treatment 1
Chronic plaque psoriasis (face, hand, foot) — initial treatment 2
Chronic plaque psoriasis (face, hand, foot) — continuing treatment
omit from the column headed “Circumstances”:

 
 where biological agent means adalimumab, etanercept, or infliximab; and

 
 where a Biological Treatment Cycle is a period of treatment with successive biological agents which commences when an eligible patient (one who has not received PBS-subsidised treatment with a biological agent for chronic plaque psoriasis in at least the previous 5 years) receives an initial course of PBS-subsidised therapy with 1 biological agent, and which continues until the patient has tried, and either failed or ceased to respond to, PBS-subsidised treatment with each of the 3 biological agents once, at which point the patient is no longer eligible for treatment and the period of treatment ceases; and

and substitute:

 
 where biological agent means adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab or ustekinumab; and

 
 where a Biological Treatment Cycle is a period of treatment with successive biological agents which commences when an eligible patient (one who has not received PBS-subsidised treatment with a biological agent for chronic plaque psoriasis in at least the previous 5 years) receives an initial course of PBS-subsidised therapy with 1 biological agent, and which continues until the patient has tried, and either failed or ceased to respond to, PBS-subsidised treatment with 3 biological agents, at which point the patient is no longer eligible for treatment and the period of treatment ceases; and

[2]                 Schedule 2, item dealing with Epoetin Beta
omit from the columns in the order indicated:
 
Injection 1,000 units in 0.3 mL pre-filled syringe
Injection
NeoRecormon
[3]                 Schedule 2, item dealing with Thalidomide
omit from the column headed “Brand”:
Thalidomide Pharmion
and substitute:
Thalomid