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After 31 March 2022, image-based prescribing will not be available for use outside of a hospital setting.
While image-based prescribing arrangements will cease in the community setting, healthcare providers will continue to have options that existed before image-based prescribing (in addition to electronic prescribing) to enable remote support to their patients. Factsheets on the supply of prescriptions via telehealth for prescribers will be shortly updated to reflect these changes.
Prescribing and dispensing software that offers eprescribing capability can be found here. The College notes that prescribing software Genie and Communicare are not offering eprescribing capability at this stage.
The National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, also known as ‘image-based prescribing’ will be extended for hospitals only until 31 March 2023
The Commonwealth Department of Health (the Department) introduced image-based prescribing in March 2020 as part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan while electronic prescribing capability was being implemented. According to the Department electronic prescribing is now widely available nationally and steadily increasing. In mid-February 2022, more than 39 million electronic prescriptions were generated, with over 89% of individual prescribers and over 98% of community pharmacies using electronic prescriptions.
In a letter received from the Department, most stakeholders are now supportive in their views about the cessation of image-based prescribing in the community setting from 31 March 2022, noting the widespread access to electronic prescribing. However, the Department acknowledges that electronic prescribing capabilities are not available for most hospitals who treat and care for patients most at risk from COVID-19 and will most likely not be available until 2023. Therefore, the Department has made the decision to extend image-based prescribing to hospitals only until 31 March 2023. This means that vulnerable and unwell Australians who require specialist hospital care and specialised medicines from hospital pharmacies will continue to be supported by image-based prescribing.
Please note that while the Commonwealth Department of Health sets out some standards and restrictions on access to medicines, State and Territory Governments regulate medicines and prescriptions. Further information regarding specific legislation and options to assist in each jurisdiction can be found here, and will be shortly updated to reflect the new image-based prescribing arrangements for hospitals.
If you have further questions, please contact eprescribing@health.gov.au or the College Digital Health Team at ehealth@acrrm.org.au.
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After 31 March 2022, image-based prescribing will not be available for use outside of a hospital setting.
While image-based prescribing arrangements will cease in the community setting, healthcare providers will continue to have options that existed before image-based prescribing (in addition to electronic prescribing) to enable remote support to their patients. Factsheets on the supply of prescriptions via telehealth for prescribers will be shortly updated to reflect these changes.
Prescribing and dispensing software that offers eprescribing capability can be found here. The College notes that prescribing software Genie and Communicare are not offering eprescribing capability at this stage.
The National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, also known as ‘image-based prescribing’ will be extended for hospitals only until 31 March 2023
The Commonwealth Department of Health (the Department) introduced image-based prescribing in March 2020 as part of the COVID-19 National Health Plan while electronic prescribing capability was being implemented. According to the Department electronic prescribing is now widely available nationally and steadily increasing. In mid-February 2022, more than 39 million electronic prescriptions were generated, with over 89% of individual prescribers and over 98% of community pharmacies using electronic prescriptions.
In a letter received from the Department, most stakeholders are now supportive in their views about the cessation of image-based prescribing in the community setting from 31 March 2022, noting the widespread access to electronic prescribing. However, the Department acknowledges that electronic prescribing capabilities are not available for most hospitals who treat and care for patients most at risk from COVID-19 and will most likely not be available until 2023. Therefore, the Department has made the decision to extend image-based prescribing to hospitals only until 31 March 2023. This means that vulnerable and unwell Australians who require specialist hospital care and specialised medicines from hospital pharmacies will continue to be supported by image-based prescribing.
Please note that while the Commonwealth Department of Health sets out some standards and restrictions on access to medicines, State and Territory Governments regulate medicines and prescriptions. Further information regarding specific legislation and options to assist in each jurisdiction can be found here, and will be shortly updated to reflect the new image-based prescribing arrangements for hospitals.
If you have further questions, please contact eprescribing@health.gov.au or the College Digital Health Team at ehealth@acrrm.org.au.