EX-TROPICAL cyclone Debbie is still impacting on the supply of PBS items and the Department of Health has announced interim measures to assist pharmacists facing the resulting challenges, especially around dispensing.
The arrangements apply immediately to all affected areas and are applicable until 30 Apr.
If patients seeking medicines do not have their Medicare, DVA or Centrelink card the pharmacist should ring the PBS Inquiry line 132 290 (press option 1), for assistance with a patient's Medicare or concessional details.
Pharmacists can confirm patients' current medication details with their prescriber, or a prescriber may direct a pharmacist to supply a medicine to a patient in an emergency situation.
Patients may be issued the amount authorised by the prescriber who is required to forward a paper prescription to the pharmacy to cover the emergency supply as soon as practicable, in accordance with state law.
Urgent supplies of oral contraceptives or cholesterol lowering medicines (statins) may be dispensed in a single PBS quantity under Continued Dispensing arrangements.
When a patient has lost medication due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the pharmacist may provide a subsequent supply, but must endorse the prescription with the words 'immediate supply necessary' and sign the PBS prescription.
In the case of lost authority required items, prescribers can contact the PBS Authority line to replace the medication.
Where temporary relocation of the pharmacy to a new venue is necessary, the pharmacist is required to send an email to acpamail@health.gov.au or phone (02) 6289 2425 quoting the name of the affected pharmacy, its current PBS approval number, addresses of the current and temporary premises, and expected timeframe for return to the approved premises (PD Wed).
Statutory Declarations will need to be documented if the pharmacy has lost or damaged prescriptions and should include a statement about loss of prescriptions as a result of the natural disaster/emergency, and an undertaking that an insurance claim has not been made.
Statutory Declarations information is found at ag.gov.au.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 31 Mar 17
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