EmailHospital Circular 36/2008
Date Issued: 24 December 2008
Distribution: Public Hospitals
Subject: Highly Specialised Drugs Program
Purpose: To advise hospitals of changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program
We have had recent advice from the Commonwealth Government regarding changes to the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
PRICE INCREASES effective 1 December 2008
| New price | Old price | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abacavir sulfate |
Oral solution 20mg per mL 240mL |
1 | 6265R | $82.14 | $75.20 |
Apomorphine hydrochloride |
Injection 20mg per 2mL |
5 | 9607P | $77.86 | $66.94 |
Interferon Gamma-1b |
Injection 2,000,000 i.u. in 0.5mL |
6 | 6148N | $1,360.90 | $1,260.09 |
Lamivudine |
Oral solution 5mg per mL 240mL |
1 | 6271C | $69.91 | $64.01 |
Stavudine |
Powder for oral solution 1mg per mL 200mL |
1 | 6250Y | $116.68 | $99.14 |
Zidovudine |
Syrup 10mg per mL 200mL |
1 | 6155Y | $44.88 | $41.09 |
PRICE DECREASES effective 1 August 2008
| New price | Old price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ribavirin and Peginterferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys RBV) |
||||
| 84 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 135mcg | 1 | 6389G | $1,295.60 | $1,432.08 |
| 112 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 135mcg | 1 | 6390H | $1,375.88 | $1,520.81 |
| 140 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 135mcg | 1 | 6391J | $1,456.14 | $1,609.53 |
| 168 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 135mcg | 1 | 6392K | $1,536.42 | $1,698.26 |
| 84 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg | 1 | 6393L | $1,462.37 | $1,616.41 |
| 112 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg | 1 | 6394M | $1,542.64 | $1,705.14 |
| 140 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg | 1 | 6395N | $1,622.91 | $1,793.86 |
| 168 tablets ribavirin 200mg with 4 pre-filled syringes peginterferon alfa-2a 180mcg | 1 | 6396P | $1,703.18 | $1,882.59 |
Ribavirin and Peginterferon Alfa-2b (Pegatron) |
||||
| 84 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 50mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6399T | $917.38 | $1,014.02 |
| 112 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 50mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6400W | $1,059.87 | $1,171.51 |
| 84 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 80mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6401X | $1,211.36 | $1,338.96 |
| 140 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 80mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6402Y | $1,353.83 | $1,496.44 |
| 168 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 80mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6403B | $1,353.83 | $1,496.44 |
| 84 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 100mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6404C | $1,407.33 | $1,555.58 |
| 112 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 100mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6405D | $1,549.81 | $1,713.07 |
| 84 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 120mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6406E | $1,603.31> | $1,772.20 |
| 140 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 120mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6407F | $1,745.79 | $1,929.69 |
| 84 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 150mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6408G | $1,897.28 | $2,097.14 |
| 140 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 150mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6409H | $2,039.76 | $2,254.63 |
| 168 capsules ribavirin 200mg with 4 single use injection pens peginterferon alfa-2b 150mcg powder plus diluent | 1 | 6410J | $2,039.76 | $2,254.63 |
Full prescribing criteria for all items available at the Commonwealth/State Highly Specialised Drugs Program Guidelines website.
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 Branch
Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services
