Changes to PBS listing of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions, effective date 1 Feb 2023
Page last updated: 1 February 2023
The Department of Health is making changes to the listing of the below-mentioned products on the PBS to allow pharmacists to dispense volumes smaller than a whole bottle at PBS subsidised prices.
- Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 2 mg per mL, 200 mL
- Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 5 mg per mL, 200 mL
- Oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg per mL, 200 mL
- Oral solution containing oxycodone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 250 mL
The changes being implemented mirror those made on 1 August 2022 to the listing of oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 1 mL following consultation with key stakeholders representing prescribers, pharmacists, pharmacy dispensing software, electronic Schedule 8 drug registers, and state and territory health authorities.
The changes being applied on 1 February 2023 are detailed in the tables below.
|
Change |
Current |
Amendments from 1 February 2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
Legislative Instrument form descriptions |
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 2 mg per mL, 200 mL |
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 2 mg per mL, 1 mL |
|
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 5 mg per mL, 200 mL |
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 5 mg per mL, 1 mL |
|
|
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg per mL, 200 mL |
oral solution containing morphine hydrochloride trihydrate 10 mg per mL, 1 mL |
|
|
Pharmaceutical Item value |
1 unit (i.e., bottle) |
200 units (i.e., millilitres) |
|
Pack Qty |
1 |
200 |
|
Pricing Qty |
1 |
200 |
|
Max Qty Units |
1 |
200 |
|
Change |
Current |
Amendments from 1 February 2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
oral solution containing oxycodone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 250 mL |
oral solution containing oxycodone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 1 mL |
|
Pharmaceutical Item value |
1 unit (ie. bottle) |
250 units (ie. millilitres) |
|
Pack Qty |
1 |
250 |
|
Pricing Qty |
1 |
250 |
|
Max Qty Units |
1 |
250 |
INFORMATION FOR PRESCRIBERS
What will happen to prescriptions written prior to 1 February 2023?
Scripts of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions written prior to the implementation will still be valid for dispensing. A repeat prescription of morphine
or oxycodone oral solution, where the original prescription was written prior to the implementation, may continue to be dispensed on the PBS.
What will happen to prescriptions written from 1 February 2023?
Prescribing software will reflect the PBS Schedule on the date a prescription is written. Scripts of morphine oral solution written from 1 February 2023 may be written for any quantity from 1 to 200 (up to 400 for palliative care patients). Similarly, scripts of oxycodone oral solution written from 1 February 2023 may be written for any quantity from 1 to 250 (or higher for authority scripts).
The quantity must be a whole number (e.g., it cannot be 20.5). The quantity will reflect
the millilitres that should be dispensed (e.g., a quantity of 50 will result in 50
mL being dispensed). Prescribers are requested to clearly state on the prescription
the exact volume of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions that should be dispensed.
Can Authority prescriptions continue to be issued?
Scripts of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions written from 1 February 2023 may be written for more than the listed quantities and/or repeats as authority required prescriptions (1 month phone approval or 3 months written/electronic).
For further information on increased authority applications see:
Request an authority using Online PBS Authorities in HPOS.
Phone applications for increased maximum quantities/repeats may be made by calling 1800 888 333.
Written authority applications for increased maximum quantities/repeats can be uploaded online through the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) form upload or mailed to the following address:
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Reply Paid 9857
[Your capital city]
What is the price payable for PBS dispensing of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions?
When dispensed on an eligible PBS prescription, the price payable by a patient for
the supply of a morphine or oxycodone oral solution may be dependent on the volume
dispensed. Nonetheless, the maximum charge will not exceed the applicable PBS co-payment
amount for that patient.
Do the changes impact existing staged supply arrangements?
The changes to the listings of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions detailed above do not affect existing staged supply arrangements that allow a prescriber to request that a pharmacist supplies a medicine over a specified period of time in instalments, rather than supplying the full amount prescribed at the outset.
INFORMATION FOR PHARMACISTS
How should prescriptions written prior to 1 February 2023 be handled?
Services Australia will reimburse pharmacists based on the item’s listed price on the Date of Supply. Scripts of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions dispensed prior to 1 February 2023 will not be impacted. Please note that scripts dispensed prior to 1 February 2023 should not be re-claimed.
- PBS scripts for one bottle written prior to 1 February 2023 and dispensed after 1 February 2023 should be claimed with a quantity of:
- 200 (for oral solutions containing morphine); and
- 250 (for oxycodone oral solution).
- Scripts for less than one bottle written prior to 1 February 2023 and dispensed after 1 February 2023 can be claimed with quantities of up to:
- 200 (for oral solutions containing morphine); and
- 250 (for oxycodone oral solution).
The quantity transmitted to Services Australia should match and the quantity in millilitres
dispensed.
How should prescriptions written from 1 February 2023 be claimed?
Scripts of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions written from 1 February 2023 will change as follows:
- PBS scripts written from 1 February 2023 will include quantities of up to:
- 200 (for oral solutions containing morphine);
- 400 ( for oral solutions containing morphine) for palliative care items; and
- 250 (for oxycodone oral solution).
The quantity transmitted to Services Australia should match what was written on the
prescription and dispensed.
Will wastage fees be reimbursed?
Pharmacies will be reimbursed applicable wastage fees under the Commonwealth price (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by approved pharmacists) Determination 2020 for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) supply of quantities smaller than 200 mL for oral solutions containing morphine and quantities smaller than 250 mL for oxycodone oral solution.
Additional factor to consider – Schedule 8 electronic drug registers
Consideration should be given to amend the units entered into Schedule 8 electronic drug registers for morphine and oxycodone oral solutions. Please contact the relevant drug register for further information.
