Queensland flood advice
January 29, 2013
PHARMACISTS in flood affected
areas of Queensland are being
advised that patients can receive a
three day supply of medication
without a prescription, in
accordance with state
emergency supply provisions.
The advice, issued by the
Department of Health and Aging for
approved pharmacists supplying
PBS medicines to patients in areas
affected by the Qld floods, also
noted that if a patient does not
have their Medicare, DVA or
Centrelink card the pharmacist
should ring the usual PBS
Inquiry line 132 290 (press option
1), for assistance with a patient’s
Medicare or concessional details.
The pharmacist can also dispense
using the ‘owning prescription
provision’, meaning that the
pharmacist can confirm the
patient’s current medication details
with the prescriber, or a prescriber
may direct a pharmacist to supply a
medicine to a patient in an
emergency situation.
In addition, patients may be
issued the amount authorised by
the prescriber, or up to one
month’s supply if no quantity is
specified.
Moreover the prescriber is required
to forward a paper prescription to
the pharmacy to cover the emergency
supply as soon as practicable, in
accordance with state law.
A pharmacy can also endorse
prescription as ‘immediate supply
necessary’, if the medicine is
required within 4/20 day rule,
meaning that the pharmacist may
provide another supply, but must
endorse the prescription with the
words 'immediate supply necessary'
and sign the PBS prescription.
The Department of Health has
also advised that pharmacists
seeking to temporarily relocate
their approved pharmacy due to
damage from widespread
flooding across Queensland should
send an email to DHS-Medicare
pbs.approval.enquiries@
humanservices.gov.au, quoting the
name of the pharmacy, their
current PBS approval number,
current address of premises, and
proposed address of premises, and
expected timeframe for return to
the approved premises.
In most instances, the Australian
Community Pharmacy Authority
will fast track these requests for
temporary relocation within 24
hours, whilst the Department of
Health and Ageing will advise
wholesaler distributors of the
temporary approval of the new
premises, to facilitate delivery of
PBS medicines to the new address.
In addition, pharmacies that have
lost or damaged paperwork due to
the flooding can submit a Statutory
Declaration to Medicare, including
a statement about loss of paperwork
as a result of the natural disaster/
emergency, and an undertaking
that if the paperwork is found it will
be forwarded to Medicare and that
an insurance claim has not been made.
Stat Decs can be downloaded at
www.ag.gov.au/statdec.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 29 Jan 13To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 29 Jan 13