EmailHospital Circular 21/2008
Date Issued: 25 July 2008
Distribution: Public Hospitals
Subject: Highly Specialised Drugs Program
Purpose: To advise hospitals of changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program, effective 1 August 2008
We have had recent advice from the Commonwealth Government regarding changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program, effective 1 August 2008.
ADDED ITEM
| 9630W | Telbivudine | Tablets 600mg | 28 | $322.84 | Sebivo NV |
Treatment, as sole PBS-subsidised therapy, in a patient with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B who is nucleoside analogue naïve and satisfies the criteria listed on the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website.
DELETED ITEMS
| 6199G | Saquinavir mesylate | Capsule 200mg(base) | 270 | Invirase RO |
| 6110N | Cyclosporin | Solution concentrate For IV infusion 250mg in 5ml |
10 | Sandimmun NV |
| 6285T | Baclofen | Intrathecal injection 10mg in 20ml |
1 | Lioresal NV Intrathecal |
| 6340Q | Lopinavir with Ritonavir | Capsule 133.3mg with 33.3mg | 90 | Kaletra AB |
AMENDED RESTRICTIONS
Bosentan monohydrate Tablets 62.5mg (base) and Tablets 125mg (base)
Now available for PAH associated with congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunt.
Infliximab Powder for IV infusion 100mg
Amended entry for Crohn Disease.
Full prescribing criteria for all items available at the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website.
ALTERATIONS- NOTES
Bosentan monohydrate
Epoprostenol sodium
Iloprost trometamol
Sildenafil citrate
Sitaxentan sodium
The alterations to the above entries recognise the use of Bosentan for PAH associated with congenital systemic-to-pulmonary shunt. Alterations have been made to the wording in the above entries regarding the submission of new baselines when swapping therapy.
Full prescribing criteria for all items available at the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website.
PRICE DECREASES
| New price | Old price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6151R | Clarithromycin Tablets 250mg | 100 | $46.06 | $48.16 |
| 6152T | Clarithromycin Tablets 500mg | 100 | $84.90 | $96.32 |
| 6101D | Clozapine Tablets 25mg | 100 | $70.56 | $72.00 |
| 6417R | Clozapine Tablets 50mg | 100 | $141.12 | $144.00 |
| 6102E | Clozapine Tablets 100mg | 100 | $264.60 | $270.00 |
| 6418T | Clozapine Tablets 200mg | 100 | $529.20 | $540.00 |
| 6352H | Cyclosporin Capsules 25mg | 30 | $40.80* | $41.63 |
| 6353J | Cyclosporin Capsules 50mg | 30 | $84.87* | $86.60 |
| 6354K | Cyclosporin Capsules 100mg | 30 | $172.92* | $176.45 |
| 6113R | Desferrioxamine mesylate 500mg Powder for Injection | 10 | $97.02* | $99.00 |
| 6270B | Desferrioxamine mesylate 2g Powder for Injection | 1 | $38.81* | $39.60 |
| 6223M | Disodium Pamidronate Injection set 90mg/10ml | 1 | $334.53 | $341.36 |
| 6279L | Disodium Pamidronate Injection set 30mg/10ml x2 | 1 | $223.02 | $227.57 |
| 6286W | Disodium Pamidronate Concentrated Injection 15mg/5ml | 1 | $55.75 | $56.89 |
| 6287X | Disodium Pamidronate Concentrated Injection 30mg/10ml | 1 | $111.51 | $113.79 |
| 6288Y | Disodium Pamidronate Concentrated Injection 60mg/10ml | 1 | $223.02 | $227.57 |
| 6289B | Disodium Pamidronate Concentrated Injection 90mg/10ml | 1 | $334.53 | $341.36 |
| 6290C | Disodium Pamidronate Injection set 15mg/5ml x4 | 1 | $223.02 | $227.57 |
| 6227R | Octreotide acetate Injection 50mcg (base)/1ml | 5 | $35.81 | $36.54 |
| 6228T | Octreotide acetate Injection 100mcg (base)/1ml | 5 | $71.60 | $73.06 |
| 6229W | Octreotide acetate Injection 500mcg (base)/1ml | 5 | $358.41 | $365.72 |
| 6426F | Octreotide acetate Injection (modified release) 10mg (base) vial & syringe | 1 | $1362.20 | $1390.00 |
| 6427G | Octreotide acetate Injection (modified release) 20mg (base) vial & syringe | 1 | $1813.00 | $1850.00 |
| 6428H | Octreotide acetate Injection (modified release) 30mg (base) vial & syringe | 1 | $2268.70 | $2315.00 |
PRICE INCREASE
| New price | Old price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6437T | Sirolimus Oral solution 1mg/ml x60ml | 1 | $468.00 | $434.00 |
* brand premium may apply
Full prescribing criteria for all items available at the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website.
DELETED BRAND
| 9607P | Apomorphine Hydrochloride Injection 20mg/2ml | APO-go | FA |
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.
Geoff Lavender
Director, Programs
Metropolitan Health & Aged Care Services
