Stopping script shopping
September 3, 2012
AUSTRALIAN GPs can now check
the prescription histories of their
patients online and via the phone,
thanks to Medicare’s Prescription
Shopping Program.
The Program is designed to
identify and reduce the number of
patients obtaining PBS subsidised
medicine in excess of their medical
need.
The two elements of the PSP
include: The Prescription Shopping
Information Service (PSIS), which is
available to registered prescribers
24 hours a day seven days a week
and provides information on the
prescription history of people
identified by the program and is
accurate up to the last 48 hours.
The second element includes an
alert system which will notify GPs if
they have prescribed to a patient of
concern.
The PSIS provides information
about patients who have met the
PSP criteria, however GPs can only
receive information about a patient
they are consulting with.
In addition, GPs will not need the
patient’s permission to call the PSIS
if there are reasonable grounds for
suspicion.
The PSIS can inform GPs if the
patient has been identified under
the PSP, and can tell them the
number of prescribers who have
prescribed, and provide
information on the amount and
type of PBS medicine recently
supplied to that patient.
If a patient has been identified by
the PSP, GPs can ask for a PBS
Patient Summary Report for the
last three months which includes:
the patient’s prescribing history,
the number of prescribers who
have prescribed to the patient, and
the patient’s usage of PBS
medicines, including the total PBS
medicine prescribed and the pack
size.
The report can be provided over
the phone, online through the
Medicare website, or via mail or
fax.
See medicareaustralia.gov.au.
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