Pharmacy information for providers

Last updated:

29 November 2024

To provide the best service for our veterans and their families, we have created guidance for our providers. Learn when you need us to approve prescriptions and who can get medicines under the RPBS.

The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) provides eligible veteran card holders with access to pharmaceuticals that are:

safe
effective
high-quality

Eligible DVA clients

Under the RPBS, eligible veteran card holders may receive:

items listed for supply in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
items listed under the RPBS, including wound care products
items not listed on either the PBS or RPBS Schedules, if there is a clinical need

The full schedule of items listed under the RPSB are available on the PBS website.

Prior approval of prescriptions

Prior approval is not needed to prescribe a large range of scheduled pharmaceuticals available under the RPBS.

You do need our prior approval to prescribe:

medicines listed as requiring prior approval
greater quantities or repeats than those listed
medicines or items not listed in either the PBS or RPBS Schedules

Please use the PBS/RPBS Authority prescription form for prior approval.

For Authority Required prior approvals either:

phone us on 1800 552 580

write to us at:

Reply Paid No. 9998
VAPAC
GPO Box 9998
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre

Requests for prior approval can be made with the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC).

Requests need to include information about the:

patient's eligibility under the RPBS
disease or condition
clinical reasons for the prescription

Requests for approval of non-scheduled items need to include an explanation of the reason why scheduled items are not appropriate.

A unique RPBS Authority approval number is provided to prescribers for each approved telephone request. This number must be endorsed on all copies of the Authority prescription.

Contact the RPBS 24 hours a day on 1800 552 580.

Applications in writing

Some items may require you to write an application.

To do this you need to give:

client information
details of past and current therapy
a clinical report on the patient's condition
proposed treatment regimen
clinical justification including evidence to support treatment

Applications can be made on your letterhead by email to ppo [at] dva.gov.au (ppo[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au) or mail to:

VAPAC
GPO Box 9998
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Home Medicines Review

Treating general practitioners (GPs) and accredited pharmacists can arrange a MBS item 900 Home Medicines Review (HMR) for:

veterans
war widowed partners
dependants

There is no requirement for pharmacists to register with us before providing a HMR service.

Pharmaceutical and health treatment cards

Veteran Gold card

Veteran Gold Card holders can obtain pharmaceuticals under the RPBS for all medical conditions.

Veteran White card

Veteran White Card holders can obtain pharmaceuticals under the RPBS for:

accepted service-related injuries or conditions
all mental health conditions
cancer (malignant neoplasm) covered under non-liability health care
pulmonary tuberculosis covered under non-liability health care

If a White Card holder also has 1 of the following cards, they can receive medicines for other conditions under the PBS:

Pensioner Concession Card
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
Health Care Card - the medicines can be charged at either the general rate or the concession rate

Veteran Orange Card

Veteran Orange Card holders can only receive pharmaceuticals under the RPBS for their medical conditions. They cannot access any medical or other health care treatment.

If a person holds both a White Card and an Orange Card they can:

use the White Card for treatment and medicines of their accepted and NLHC conditions
use the Orange Card for pharmaceuticals for all other conditions

Repatriation Pharmaceutical Reference Committee - information for sponsors

The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Reference Committee (RPRC):

advises the Repatriation Commission, Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and the Minister on the clinical appropriateness for items available under the RPBS
ensures that the listed items and their conditions of supply are the most appropriate to meet the special and individual needs of eligible veterans and their dependants.

Clinical experts from various medical specialities make up the RPRC. Independent representative bodies nominate members to the committee.

The RPRC meets 2 times a year to consider all new listing submissions and any relevant pharmaceutical matters. Pharmaceutical companies (sponsors) or their agents are welcome to make new RPBS listing submissions for consideration by us.

Sponsors should send submissions to the RPRC Secretariat 6 weeks before the next meeting.

Submissions to be sent by email to Repatriation.Pharma.Reference.Committee [at] dva.gov.au (Repatriation[dot]Pharma[dot]Reference[dot]Committee[at]dva[dot]gov[dot]au) or mail to:

The Secretariat
Repatriation Pharmaceutical Reference Committee
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
GPO Box 9998
Brisbane QLD 4001

For more information on submissions refer to:

Next RPRC meeting

The next RPRC meeting is scheduled for Friday 11 April 2025. Please provide submissions to the RPRC Secretariat by Friday 28 February 2025.

Feedback

Your feedback helps us deliver quality service to veterans and families. Read more about complaints, compliments and other feedback.

Other health bodies can also benefit from your input. For feedback about:

medicine quality or safety, contact the Therapeutic Goods Administration
pharmacists, contact the AHPRA Pharmacy Board
other health professionals, contact AHPRA.