Note: Drugs funded under the Highly Specialised Drugs Program provide a
subsidy for community patients only. Inpatients remain the responsibility
of the treating hospital.
Drug |
Date Subsidised |
PBAC
Clinical Indications and other Restrictions |
| Abacavir Sulfate (Ziagen) |
1 October 1999
Amended 1 February 2004
Amended 1 January 2011 |
Initial treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents in a patient with a CD4 count of less than 500 per cubic millimetre or symptomatic HIV disease (3588)
Continuing treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents where the patient has previously received PBS-subsidised therapy for HIV infection (3589) |
Abacavir Sulfate
with Lamivudine (Kivexa) |
1 December 2005
Amended 1 January 2011 |
Initial treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents in a patient over 12 years of age, weighing 40kg or more, with a CD4 count of less than 500 per cubic millimetre or symptomatic HIV disease (3592)
Continuing treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents where the patient over 12 years of age, weighing 40kg or more, has previously received PBS-subsidised therapy for HIV infection (3593) |
Abacavir Sulfate
with Lamivudine and Zidovudine (Trizivir)
|
1 November 2001
Amended 1 February 2004
Amended 1 January 2011
Amended March 2012 |
Initial treatment of HIV infection in a patient over 12 years of age, weighing 40kg or more, with a CD4 count of less than 500 per cubic millimetre or symptomatic HIV disease (3981)
Continuing treatment of HIV infection where the patient over 12 years of age, weighing 40kg or more, has previously received PBS-subsidised therapy for HIV infection (3982) |
Abatacept (Orencia) |
1 March 2008
Amended 1 January 2008 |
This drug needs prior approval by Medicare Australia.
More information and forms are available at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/highly-specialised-drugs/complex-authority-drugs.jsp
 Abatacept - April 2012
|
| Adalimumab (Humira) |
1 November 2010 |
This drug needs prior approval by Medicare Australia.
More information and forms are available at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/highly-specialised-drugs/complex-authority-drugs.jsp
 Adalimumab - December 2010 (243kb, pdf)
|
| Adefovir Dipivoxil
(Hepsera) |
1 December 2004
Amended 1 April 2006
Amended 1 April 2007
Amended 1 March 2008
Amended 1 July 2008
Amended 1 March 2012 |
Chronic hepatitis B in a patient without cirrhosis who has failed antihepadnaviral therapy and who satisfies all of the following criteria:
(a) Repeatedly elevated serum ALT levels while on concurrent antihepadnaviral therapy of greater than or equal to 6 months duration in conjunction with documented chronic hepatitis B infection; or
(b) Repeatedly elevated HBV DNA levels one log greater than the nadir value or failure to achieve a one log reduction in HBV DNA within 3 months, whilst on previous antihepadnaviral therapy except in patients with evidence of poor compliance (3973)
Chronic hepatitis B in a patient with cirrhosis who has failed antihepadnaviral therapy and who has detectable HBV DNA.
Persons with Child's class B or C cirrhosis (ascites, variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, albumin less than 30 g per L, bilirubin greater than 30 micromoles per L) should have their treatment discussed with a transplant unit prior to initiating therapy. (3974)
NOTE:
Patients may receive treatment in combination with lamivudine but not with other PBS-subsidised antihepadnaviral therapy. |
| Ambrisentan (Volibris) |
Added 1 December 2009 |
This drug needs prior approval by Medicare Australia.
More information and forms are available at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/highly-specialised-drugs/complex-authority-drugs.jsp
Ambrisentan - July 2012
|
Apomorphine
Hydrochloride (Apomine, Apomine PFS)
|
1 Mar 1996 |
Parkinson's disease in patients severely disabled by motor fluctuations
which do not respond to other therapy. (3314) |
| Atazanavir Sulfate
(Reyataz) |
1 December 2004
Amended 1 January 2011 |
Initial treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents in a patient with a CD4 count of less than 500 per cubic millimetre or symptomatic HIV disease (3588)
Continuing treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral agents where the patient has previously received PBS-subsidised therapy for HIV infection (3589) |
| Azacitidine (Vidaza) |
1 February 2011 |
This drug needs prior approval by Medicare Australia.
More information and forms are available at
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/highly-specialised-drugs/complex-authority-drugs.jsp
Azacitidine (136kb, pdf) |
Azithromycin
(Zithromax)
|
1 December 1997 |
Prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium complex infections
in HIV positive patients with CD4 cell counts of less than 75per cubic
millilitre. (3317)
|
Baclofen (Lioresal
Intrathecal)
|
Amended 1 February 2003 |
Severe chronic spasticity, where oral antispastic agents have failed or have caused unacceptable side effects, in patients with chronic spasticity of cerebral origin. (3318)
Severe chronic spasticity, where oral antispastic agents have failed or have caused unacceptable side effects, in patients with chronic spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. (3319)
Severe chronic spasticity, where oral antispastic agents have failed or have caused unacceptable side effects, in patients with chronic spasticity due to spinal cord injury. (3320)
Severe chronic spasticity, where oral antispastic agents have failed or have caused unacceptable side effects, in patients with chronic spasticity due to spinal cord disease. (3321) |
