Please note: You’ll get an immediate assessment when you request PBS authorities online.
Patient eligibility
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with lapatinib, pertuzumab, trastuzumab, trastuzumab deruxtecan and trastuzumab emtansine under the National Health Act 1953, section 85 and section 100 for patients with breast cancer.
Patients must be eligible for the PBS and meet the relevant restriction criteria.
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits on the PBS website outlines the restrictions for prescribing lapatinib, pertuzumab, trastuzumab, trastuzumab deruxtecan and trastuzumab emtansine.
Section 100 arrangements
Pertuzumab, trastuzumab i.v., trastuzumab deruxtecan and trastuzumab emtansine
These items are only PBS-subsidised for non-admitted patients, day admitted patients, or patients on discharge who are attending:
- an approved private hospital
- a public participating hospital
- a public hospital.
These items aren’t PBS-subsidised for public hospital in-patients. You must include the hospital name and provider number on the authority application form.
Authority applications
Trastuzumab
All PBS-subsidised treatment with trastuzumab is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.
Early HER2 positive breast cancer
Applying for initial treatment
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised trastuzumab emtansine to treat early HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either in:
- real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- writing and use HPOS Form upload
- writing and mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions
- the completed early HER2 positive breast cancer - trastuzumab emtansine - initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised trastuzumab emtansine to treat early HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer
Applying for initial treatment
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised lapatinib to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either in:
- real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- writing and use HPOS Form upload
- writing and mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include:
- details of the proposed prescription or prescriptions
- the completed metastatic HER2 positive breast cancer - lapatinib - initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applications for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised pertuzumab, trastuzumab deruxtecan or trastuzumab emtansine to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised pertuzumab, trastuzumab deruxtecan or trastuzumab emtansine to treat metastatic (Stage IV) HER2 positive breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Continuing PBS-subsidised treatment with lapatinib is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.
Unresectable and/or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer
Applications for authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised trastuzumab deruxtecan to treat unresectable and/or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer can be made either:
- in real time using the Online PBS Authorities system
- by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
More information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.