Changes to PBS listing of methadone oral liquid, effective date 1 July 2023
Page last updated: 1 July 2023
The Department of Health and Aged Care is making changes to the listing of the below-mentioned product on the PBS to allow pharmacists to dispense volumes smaller than a whole bottle at PBS subsidised prices:
- oral liquid containing methadone hydrochloride 25 mg per 5 mL, 200 mL
The changes being implemented mirror those made to the listing of oral solution containing hydromorphone hydrochloride 1 mg per mL, 1 mL on 1 August 2022 following consultation with key stakeholders representing prescribers, pharmacists, pharmacy dispensing software, electronic Schedule 8 drug registers and state and territory health authorities. Similar changes were also made to the listings of morphine and oxycodone oral solutions on 1 February 2023.
The changes being applied on 1 July 2023 are detailed in the table below.
|
Change |
Current |
Amendments from 1 July 2023 |
|---|---|---|
|
Legislative Instrument form description |
oral liquid containing methadone hydrochloride 25 mg per 5 mL, 200 mL |
oral liquid containing methadone hydrochloride 25 mg per 5 mL in 200 mL bottle, 1 mL |
|
Pharmaceutical Item value |
1 unit (i.e. bottle) |
200 units (i.e. millilitres) |
|
Pack Qty |
1 |
200 |
|
Pricing Qty |
1 |
200 |
|
Max Qty Units |
1 |
200 |
Information for Prescribers
What will happen to prescriptions written prior to 1 July 2023?
Prescriptions for methadone oral liquid written prior to the implementation will still be valid for dispensing. Repeat prescriptions for methadone oral liquid, where the original prescription was written prior to the implementation, may continue to be dispensed on the PBS.
What will happen to prescriptions written from 1 July 2023?
Prescribing software will reflect the PBS Schedule on the date a prescription is written. Prescriptions for methadone oral liquid written from 1 July 2023 may be written for any quantity from 1 to 200 for palliative care patients.
The quantity must be a whole number (i.e. it cannot be 20.5). The quantity will reflect the millilitres that should be dispensed (i.e. a quantity of 50 will result in 50 mL being dispensed). Prescribers are requested to clearly state on the prescription the exact volume of methadone oral liquid that should be dispensed.
Can Authority prescriptions continue to be issued?
Authority prescriptions for methadone oral liquid written from 1 July 2023 may be written for more than the listed quantities and/or repeats as an authority required prescription (1 month approval via online PBS Authority system/phone or 3 months written/electronic).
For further information on authority applications see the Services Australia website.
Phone applications may be made by calling 1800 888 333.
Written authority applications for increased maximum quantities/repeats can be uploaded online through the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) form upload or mailed to the following address:
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Reply Paid 9857
[Your capital city]
What is the price payable for PBS dispensing of methadone oral liquid?
When dispensed on an eligible PBS prescription, the price payable by patients for the supply of methadone oral liquid may be dependent on the volume dispensed. Nonetheless, the maximum charge will not exceed the applicable PBS co-payment for that patient.
Do the changes impact existing staged supply arrangements?
The changes to the listings of methadone oral liquid detailed above do not impact existing staged supply arrangements that allow prescribers to request that a pharmacist supplies a medicine over a specified period of time in instalments, rather than supplying the full amount prescribed at the outset.
Information For Pharmacists
How should prescriptions written prior to 1 July 2023 be handled?
Services Australia will reimburse pharmacists based on the item’s listed price on the
Date of Supply. Prescriptions for methadone oral liquid for palliative care dispensed prior to 1 July 2023 will not be impacted. Please note that prescriptions dispensed prior to 1 July 2023 should not be re-claimed.
- PBS prescriptions and/or repeats for one bottle written prior to 1 July 2023 and dispensed after 1 July 2023 should be claimed with a quantity of 200.
- PBS prescriptions and/or repeats for less than one bottle written prior to 1 July 2023 and dispensed after 1 July 2023 can be claimed with quantities of up to 200.
The quantity transmitted to Services Australia should match the quantity in millilitres dispensed.
How should prescriptions written from 1 July 2023 be claimed?
Prescriptions for methadone oral liquid written from 1 July 2023 will change as follows:
- PBS prescriptions written from 1 July 2023 will include quantities of up to 200 for palliative care patients. Higher quantities will require Authority prescriptions.
The quantity transmitted to Services Australia should match what was written on the prescription and dispensed.
Will wastage fees be reimbursed?
Pharmacies will be reimbursed applicable wastage fees under the Commonwealth price (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by approved pharmacists) Determination 2020 for PBS supply of quantities smaller than 200 mL under the Palliative Care Schedule listings.
Additional factor to consider – Schedule 8 electronic drug registers
Consideration should be given to amend the units entered into Schedule 8 electronic drug registers for methadone oral liquid. Please contact the relevant drug register for further information.
