Update - 13485R - CALCIUM, calcium carbonate 1.25 g (calcium 500 mg) chewable tablet, 120 (Cal-500) – Prescriber code permissions

Page last updated: 1 July 2024

An error in the July 2024 PBS schedule has resulted in Nurse practitioners not being able to prescribe Calcium for stable patients suitable for the increased maximum dispensed quantity measure (maximum quantity of 4) item code 13485R. The error will be rectified 1 August 2024.

Nurse practitioners can still prescribe Calcium (maximum quantity 2, 1 repeat) item code 11726E in July 2024.

13485R - CALCIUM, calcium carbonate 1.25 g (calcium 500 mg) chewable tablet, 120 (Cal-500)

Authority Required
Hyperphosphataemia
Clinical criteria:
The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient,
AND
Clinical criteria:
The condition must be associated with chronic renal failure.

This code is a “60 day prescriptions” item code, with maximum quantity of 4 and 1 repeat.

The error has resulted in the Prescriber types being inadvertently amended from M,N (Medical and Nurse practitioners) to M (Medical practitioners) only.

Base item code 11726E (maximum quantity 2, 1 repeat) remains available for prescribing by both Medical and Nurse practitioners, for the same indication as above. Nurse prescribers should use this code for prescribing against for the month of July.

This prescriber code error will be rectified in the 1 August 2024 PBS data, with 13485R being available for prescribing by both Medical Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners from this time.

Please note, 60 day prescriptions (maximum quantity of 4) with a date of prescribing in the month of July by a Nurse practitioners, will be rejected for the life of the script.

There is no change to prescribing by Medical Practitioners.