The Commonwealth Department of Health is reminding prescribers and dispensers of the approaching end date for the final extension of the image-based prescribing arrangements on 31 December 2021. They would also like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for their contribution to the uptake of electronic prescribing - electronic prescribing is now widely available nationally, with over 79 per cent of prescribers, and over 98 per cent of pharmacists issuing and dispensing electronic prescriptions.
The Department of Health introduced the National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, also known as ‘image-based prescribing’ in March 2020 as an interim arrangement while electronic prescribing capabilities were being developed. Given electronic prescribing is now widely available, please note that the decision, made in September 2021, to extend image-based prescribing was to provide an emergency option for exceptional circumstances where electronic prescribing or other mechanisms cannot be used, particularly in communities that were affected by the state-wide COVID-19 lockdowns. As state-wide COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions continue to ease, and industry continues to adopt electronic prescribing options, the Commonwealth will discontinue this special arrangement as planned on 31 December 2021.
While image-based prescribing arrangements will cease after 31 December 2021, 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 and dispensers have been updated to reflect these changes.
The Commonwealth continues to listen to feedback from stakeholders, and SMS costs associated with electronic prescribing will continue to be covered until 30 June 2022.
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 for image-based prescribing can be found here. Please contact your respective jurisdiction authority for more details.
If you have further questions, please contact eprescribing@health.gov.au.
The Department of Health introduced the National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, also known as ‘image-based prescribing’ in March 2020 as an interim arrangement while electronic prescribing capabilities were being developed. Given electronic prescribing is now widely available, please note that the decision, made in September 2021, to extend image-based prescribing was to provide an emergency option for exceptional circumstances where electronic prescribing or other mechanisms cannot be used, particularly in communities that were affected by the state-wide COVID-19 lockdowns. As state-wide COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions continue to ease, and industry continues to adopt electronic prescribing options, the Commonwealth will discontinue this special arrangement as planned on 31 December 2021.
While image-based prescribing arrangements will cease after 31 December 2021, 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 and dispensers have been updated to reflect these changes.
The Commonwealth continues to listen to feedback from stakeholders, and SMS costs associated with electronic prescribing will continue to be covered until 30 June 2022.
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 for image-based prescribing can be found here. Please contact your respective jurisdiction authority for more details.
If you have further questions, please contact eprescribing@health.gov.au.