Hospital Authorities

How to apply to become a PBS approved supplier - information for Hospital Authorities

Page last updated: 11 October 2022

Public hospital (participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)
Non-dispensing public hospital (participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)
Public hospital (not participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)
Private hospital
Submitting forms via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal
Applying for hospital approval
Prescribing-only hospital
Bank account details
Authority for authorised person(s) to sign forms
Claiming for PBS medicines
Contact us
Form - Privacy Note

Public hospital (participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)

A hospital that has been declared a public hospital under subsection 121-5 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 and is participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements under the National Health Care Agreement can apply for approval to supply pharmaceutical benefits and highly specialised drugs to patients receiving treatment in or at the hospital.

Non-dispensing public hospital (participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)

An approval granted under section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 to a hospital authority, in respect of a particular public hospital, enables a public hospital authority that does not have a dispensary or pharmacy at the hospital to claim for the supply of highly specialised drugs. The highly specialised drugs may be supplied to patients receiving treatment in or at the public hospital, where supply of those drugs is undertaken by a third party such as a community pharmacy, friendly society or agent.

Public hospital (not participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements)

A public hospital authority that is not participating in the Pharmaceutical Reform Arrangements can apply for approval under section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 to supply highly specialised drugs to patients receiving treatment in or at the hospital.

Private hospital

A hospital that has been declared a private hospital under subsection 121-5 of the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 can apply for approval under section 94 of the National Health Act 1953 to supply pharmaceutical benefits and/or highly specialised drugs to patients receiving treatment in or at the hospital.

A hospital authority approved in respect of a private hospital can prescribe and/or supply PBS subsidised medicines and/or highly specialised drugs.

Submitting forms via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal

Each PBS Approved Suppliers form contains instructions on how it should be returned. For further information on how to submit forms via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal, refer to the guide: How to upload PDF forms or additional requested information.

Applying for hospital approval

To apply for approval to enable a public or private hospital authority to supply pharmaceutical benefits and/or highly specialised drugs, the hospital authority must complete the Application for a hospital authority to prescribe and/or supply pharmaceutical benefits and/or highly specialised drugs form and submit it via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.

Prescribing-only hospital

To notify the Department of Health and Aged Care of approval of a public hospital to prescribe pharmaceutical benefits in accordance with the applicable Pharmaceutical Reform Agreement, the hospital authority must complete the Notification of a prescribing-only hospital form and submit it via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.

Bank account details

To notify of the bank account into which PBS payments are to be made, the hospital authority must complete the Notification of bank account details for a hospital authority form and submit it via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal. Please allow up to 10 working days for the notification to take effect.

Authority for authorised person(s) to sign forms

To authorise a pharmacist to sign PBS claims on behalf of a hospital authority, the hospital authority must complete the Authority to authorise pharmacist(s) to sign claim forms on behalf of a hospital authority form and submit it via the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal.

Claiming for PBS medicines

The Commonwealth will reimburse approved suppliers for PBS medicines supplied to Australian residents and eligible overseas visitors.

Once recommended or approved by the Department of Health and Aged Care, to set up online PBS claiming with Services Australia, the PRODA set-up and form below should be completed, including the Hospital approval number issued to the hospital authority, and the form emailed to Services Australia, at the address on the form. (Please do not email this form to the Department of Health and Aged Care.)

Services Australia cannot pay for PBS medicines supplied if you have not submitted this forms.

Read more about registering for online claiming for the PBS, including PRODA set-up on the Services Australia website.

Check with your pharmacy dispensing software provider as to whether you will need a Medicare PKI site certificate. If yes, complete an Application for a PKI site certificate form (HW001) - Services Australia. Once the form has been received and processed, Services Australia will issue you with a PKI site certificate.

Contact us

For any queries, please email details of your enquiry to pbsapprovedsuppliers@health.gov.au or call PBS Approved suppliers on 1800 316 389.

Contact Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services)

Service Australia oversees patient eligibility and PBS claim payments, and sets up online claiming.
Read more about online claiming for the PBS on the Services Australia website or call 1800 700 199.
To check patient eligibility or script authority queries, please call 132 290.

Form – Privacy Note

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (Department) is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

The Department is collecting personal information that you provide in the relevant Form for the purposes of assessing the application or processing the notification (as the case may be). The collection of the personal information is authorised under the National Health Act 1953 (Cth) and delegated legislation under that Act.

For further information, please visit Privacy and your personal information.


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