Patient eligibility
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises treatment with blinatumomab, dasatinib, imatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib under the National Health Act 1953, section 85 and section 100 for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
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 blinatumomab, dasatinib, imatinib, inotuzumab ozogamicin and ponatinib.
Section 100 arrangements
Blinatumomab and inotuzumab ozogamicin
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 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
Applying for initial treatment
Blintumomab
Apply for initial (induction) authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab to treat ALL in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - blintumomab initial (induction) authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Dasatinib
Apply for first line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - first line - dasatinib initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Apply for second line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised dasatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - second line - dasatinib initial PBS authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Imatinib
Apply for first line initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised imatinib to treat ALL by calling the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised inotuzumab ozogamicin to treat ALL in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - inotuzumab ozogamicin initial (induction) authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Ponatinib
Apply for initial authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised ponatinib to treat ALL in writing and either:
- use HPOS Form upload
- mail to PBS Complex Drugs Programs.
All written applications must include the completed:
- authority prescription form or forms
- acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - ponatinib initial authority application form
- relevant attachments.
Applying for continuing treatment
Applications for continuing authority approval to prescribe PBS-subsidised blinatumomab, dasatinib, inotuzumab ozagamicin and ponatinib 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 imatinib is Authority Required (Streamlined). You don’t need authority approval from us for the listed quantities and repeats.
More information
Call the PBS Complex Drugs Programs enquiry line for more information.