PBS - sporedata/researchdesigneR GitHub Wiki
General description
The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Dispensing Database contains information on prescription medicines that qualify for a benefit under the National Health Act 1953 and for which a claim has been processed. The database comprises information about PBS scripts and payments, patients, prescribers, and dispensing pharmacies.
PBS benefit categories
Medicines are PBS-listed per one of three benefit categories:
- Unrestricted benefits - Medicines available for general use without limits on the subsidized indication for prescribing.
- Restricted benefits - Medicines available to treat specific indications or patient groups. Prescribers are required to provide private (unsubsidized) prescriptions if the medicine is prescribed outside the PBS-specified indication.
- Authority required benefits - Here, an authority prescription is indispensable for cases where a higher dose or quantity of the medicine than the maximum approved on the PBS is required and for certain restricted medication. Authority benefits can be categorized into (a) Authority required prescriptions - require the prescriber requires written or telephone approval from DHS or DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) before dispensing is permitted, and (b) Authority required (STREAMLINED) prescriptions - do not require prior approval from DHS or DVA, but a streamlined authority code on the prescription.
Limitations
- Does not capture the use of over-the-counter medicines, inpatient prescriptions in public hospitals (covered by hospital budgets), or unsubsidized prescriptions dispensed privately in the community.
Related publications
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers
- Pharmaceutical benefits scheme
- Twenty‐five years of prescription opioid use in Australia: a whole‐of‐population analysis using pharmaceutical claims
- Management of inflammatory bowel disease
- Time to rethink our approach to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of medicines: the case of pregabalin
- Pharmaceutical benefits scheme policy: confused and tough on patients
- The management of gout: Much has changed
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme restrictions on anti-epileptic drug prescribing promote unsafe and outdated practice
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - not always cost effective for the chronically ill
- Studies using Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for pharmacoepidemiological research: a systematic review of the published literature (1987-2013)
Data access
Publicly-available PBS data extracts are freely accessible without a contract or ethical approval. Meanwhile, available excerpts of the PBS data collection come in various formats and include Australian Statistics on Medicines, PBS Statistics online, PBS/RPBS under co-payment extract, and Section 85 extract (s85 dispensing records).