Authorised Nurse Practitioners now eligible to prescribe certain Highly Specialised Drugs
Page last updated: 1 April 2020
From 1 April 2020, Authorised Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can prescribe hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV medicines under the Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs program.
The relevant medicines listed for prescribing by NPs are identified by ‘NP’ in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Schedule.
The National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement Amendment (Authorised Nurse Practitioners) Instrument 2020 available at www.legislation.gov.au outlines these changes.
The changes will improve access to these medicines for vulnerable populations. This includes patients:
- in remote and regional areas
- experiencing homelessness
- in custodial settings
