EmailHospital Circular 20/2003
Date Issued: 21 July 2003
Publication: 20/2003
Distribution: Public Hospitals
Enquiries: Alecia Segrave (03) 9616 2586
Subject: Highly Specialised Drugs Program
We have had recent advice from the Commonwealth of changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program, effective 1 August 2003.
1. ADD DRUG
Mycophenolate sodium (Myfortic)
CAUTION:
Careful monitoring of patients is mandatory
Management of rejection, under the supervision and direction of a transplant unit, in patients receiving this drug for prophylaxis of renal allograft rejection. Management includes initiation, stabilisation and review of therapy as required.
| 6369F | Tablet (enteric coated) 180 mg (mycophenolic acid) | 120 | $222.28 | NV |
| 6370G | Tablet (enteric coated) 360 mg (mycophenolic acid) | 120 | $444.56 | NV |
2. ADD BRAND
Cyclosporin (Cicloral)
CAUTION:
Careful monitoring of patients is mandatory.
Management of rejection in patients following organ or tissue
transplantation, under the supervision and direction of a transplant
unit. Management includes initiation, stabilisation and review
of therapy as required;
Management (which includes initiation, stabilisation and review
of therapy) by:
- dermatologists or clinical immunologists of patients with severe atopic dermatitis for whom other systemic therapies are ineffective or inappropriate;
- dermatologists of patients with severe psoriasis for whom other systemic therapies are ineffective or inappropriate and in whom the disease has caused significant interference with quality of life;
- nephrologists of patients with nephrotic syndrome in patients in whom steroids and cytostatic drugs have failed or are not tolerated or are considered inappropriate and in whom renal function is unimpaired;
- rheumatologists or clinical immunologists of patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis for whom classical slow-acting anti-rheumatic agents (including methotrexate) are ineffective or inappropriate.
| 6352H | Capsule 25 mg | 30 | $43.54 | HX |
| 6353J | Capsule 50 mg | 30 | $88.53 | HX |
| 6354K | Capsule 100 mg | 30 | $178.38 | HX |
3. ADD PACK SIZE
Cyclosporin (Cysporin)
| 6352H | Capsule 25 mg | 30 | $43.54 | FA |
| 6353J | Capsule 50 mg | 30 | $88.53 | FA |
| 6354K | Capsule 100 mg | 30 | $178.38 | FA |
(Indication wording same as Cicloral brand above).
4. PRICE DECREASE
Cyclosporin (Neoral)
| 6352H | Capsule 25 mg | 30 | $43.54 | NV |
| 6353J | Capsule 50 mg | 30 | $88.53 | NV |
| 6354K | Capsule 100 mg | 30 | $178.38 | NV |
Cyclosporin (Cysporin)
| 6111P | Capsule 25 mg | 50 | $73.55 | FA |
| 6112Q | Capsule 50 mg | 50 | $148.53 | FA |
| 6114T | Capsule 100 mg | 50 | $298.38 | FA |
5. ADD ITEM / DRUG FORM
Zoledronic acid (Zometa)
Treatment of hypercalcaemia of malignancy refractory to anti-neoplastic therapy.
| 6371H | Injection concentrate for I.V. infusion 4 mg in 5 mL | 1 | $545.00 | NV |
6. AMEND RESTRICTION
Ribavirin and interferon alfa-2b (Rebetron Combination Therapy)
Change from:
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients previously untreated
with interferon alfa-2a/2b and who satisfy all of the following
criteria:
Change to:
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients previously untreated
with interferon alfa or peginterferon alfa and who satisfy all
of the following criteria:
(Remainder of the indication unchanged)
Cyclosporin (Cicloral, Cysporin, Neoral and Sandimmum), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), mycophenolate sodium (Myfortic) and tacrolimus (Prograf).
Addition of:
CAUTION:
Careful monitoring of patients is mandatory.
Changes notified by hospital circular will be updated in the Guidelines on the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website and the claim form amended.
Noreen Dowd
Director, Programs Branch
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services
