Posted by Michael Wonder on 30 Apr 2020
PBS restriction requirement exemptions for some medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic
30 April 2020 - The Australian Government is implementing a temporary measure from 1 May 2020 to allow some flexibility around PBS restrictions for eligible PBS medicines to ensure continued treatment for patients during the COVID-19 crisis.
Where a treating medical professional considers that a patient taking an eligible PBS medicine should be exempt from any specific Authority Required PBS restriction requirement, as it may put the patient at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, or cannot be completed due to social distancing or isolation requirements, a request for exemption for that PBS restriction requirement will be able to be lodged with Services Australia (Medicare) from 1 May 2020.
The request for exemption will need to be included with the authority request through the normal process.
