What an authority prescription is, the two types, how to get approval, and what to do if something goes wrong. For GPs, registrars, non-VR doctors, and IMGs.
Most PBS medicines can be prescribed without any prior approval — the patient pays the standard copayment ($25.00 general / $7.70 concession) and that’s it. But for some medicines, Medicare requires confirmation that the patient meets specific clinical criteria before subsidising the cost. These are called authority prescriptions.
💡 Want to know what a specific medicine costs? Use the PBS Price Checker — search by brand or active ingredient.
Without the right authority, the pharmacist cannot dispense the medicine at the PBS price. The patient pays the full unsubsidised cost — which for some medicines is hundreds of dollars.
Authority exists for two reasons: some drugs are restricted to specific clinical indications (e.g. a statin only subsidised for people with documented cardiovascular risk), and some high-cost drugs require prior approval to manage PBS expenditure (e.g. biologics, PCSK9 inhibitors).
| Type | What it means | Prior approval? | Common examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (unrestricted) | No restrictions. Any registered prescriber can write. | None | Amoxicillin, metformin, paracetamol, salbutamol |
| Restricted benefit | Only PBS-subsidised for specific indications listed in the schedule. No prior approval, but indication must be met. | None | Some antibiotics for specific infections, some antihistamines |
| Streamlined authority | Self-certify criteria are met. Write the authority code on the script. No phone call, but auditable. | Self-declare | PPIs for reflux, statins (primary prevention criteria), bisphosphonates, tiotropium, some SGLT2 inhibitors |
| Telephone / online authority | Must call or go online first. Get an approval number. Write it on the script. | Yes — before prescribing | PCSK9 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists (some indications), biologics, ADHD stimulants (some), strong opioids (PBS) |
The pharmacist will see no authority number on the script and cannot dispense at the PBS price. The patient will be quoted the full private cost — which can be significant for restricted drugs.
What to do: Call 132 150 immediately and explain. Services Australia can often provide retrospective authority for the same day, particularly if the clinical criteria are clearly met. The pharmacist can then dispense once you pass them the number. This does happen in practice — call promptly and it can usually be resolved.
For streamlined authority: if you’ve already prescribed and the pharmacy flags a missing code, check your software — you may have simply forgotten to select the authority type. Make sure your clinical notes document that the criteria were met at the time of prescribing. These prescriptions are subject to audit.
Authority prescriptions are about the drug and its PBS criteria, not your prescriber category. Non-VR GPs (prescribed medical practitioners billing Group A2 items) and IMGs with a valid Medicare provider number can prescribe PBS authority items on the same basis as vocationally registered GPs, provided:
⚠️ PBS listings and authority criteria change quarterly. Always verify the current PBS entry at pbs.gov.au before prescribing. The examples below are illustrative only.
Authority approval covers the initial supply and repeats on that script. For ongoing authority items, you may need a fresh authority each time you write a new script (depending on the drug). Some authorities are granted for a set period (e.g. 12 months); others require reapplication each time.
Standard PBS scripts can have up to 5 repeats (6 supplies total). Some authority items can have up to 11 repeats — check the specific PBS listing.
Schedule 8 drugs on PBS: most states do not permit repeats on S8 scripts regardless of authority. Each supply requires a new prescription. State laws apply — check your state health department rules.