‘Regrettable, if understandable’: PBS tightens GLP-1 RA prescribing rules
Associate Professor Gary Kilov said the PBAC had 'telegraphed' the changes for over a year but the wording had not been finalised until recently.
Doctors prescribing GLP-1 receptor agonists now require telephone or electronic authority when initiating therapy for all PBS indications.
On 1 June, health officials tightened the rules for semaglutide (Ozempic) and dulaglutide (Trulicity) as part of a crackdown on prescribing outside of the PBS rules, while also removing restrictions for other type 2 diabetes medications.
The authority type for the GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) has been changed to authority required for any indication, but streamlined authority will be maintained for continuing treatment.
PBS access to the drug class has also been restricted to patients who are contraindicated, intolerant or do not have a “clinically meaningful glycaemic response” to SGLT-2 inhibitors.
