More help for GPs: new prescription shopping hotline opens
The Commonwealth Government today launched a new hotline to help prevent prescription shopping.
View by date:
Previous MinistersPDF printable version of this page (PDF 22 KB)
Joint Release
The Hon Tony Abbott MHR
Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Joe Hockey
Minister for Human Services
11 February 2005ABB013/05
The Commonwealth Government today launched a new hotline to help prevent prescription shopping.
The Prescription Shopping Information Service gives doctors 24-hour access seven days a week to a free phone call service. The service will help doctors identify if their patients have been supplied PBS medicines within a three-month period that may be in excess of therapeutic need.
Medical practitioners will be able to obtain information about the type and amount of medicines that have been prescribed to their patients who could be prescription shoppers.
The Prescription Shopping Information Service is one part of a wider government strategy to identify and address problems relating to prescription shopping. This strategy aims not only to protect the integrity of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme but to also help people who may be in need of care.
Doctors have been informed of the new service through the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) and can access the service after they complete and sign a HIC registration form. Doctors receive an access number and can obtain information about patients, including the amount and type of PBS medicines recently supplied.
Data from the HIC shows that prescription shopping is not widespread but it does occur. This service aims to reduce further the incidence of prescription shopping and will help assist with the management of patients.
The Federal Privacy Commissioner has issued a determination to ensure that doctors can receive PBS prescribing information about their patients without contravening privacy legislation.
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.
Wendy Black, Office of Joe Hockey, 0418 532 534
Help with accessing large documents
When accessing large documents (over 500 KB in size), it is recommended that the following procedure be used:
- Click the link with the RIGHT mouse button
- Choose "Save Target As.../Save Link As..." depending on your browser
- Select an appropriate folder on a local drive to place the downloaded file
Attempting to open large documents within the browser window (by left-clicking)
may inhibit your ability to continue browsing while the document is
opening and/or lead to system problems.
Help with accessing PDF documents
To view PDF (Portable Document Format) documents, you will need to have a PDF reader installed on your computer. A number of PDF readers are available through the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) Web Guide website.