PBS Authorities – Planned changes to severe active rheumatoid arthritis program

Changes are coming to enable digital self-service for all severe active rheumatoid arthritis PBS Authorities.

From 1 June 2025, you'll be able to use the Online PBS Authorities system, offered by Services Australia, to request PBS Authority approvals for the following medications:

• Abatacept
• Adalimumab
• Baricitinib
• Certolizumab
• Etanercept
• Golimumab
• Infliximab
• Tocilizumab
• Tofacitinib
• Upadacitinib

PBS Authority requests made online provide immediate, real-time assessment outcomes, or in some instances, a full/delayed assessment where the authority request is digitally submitted to a Services Australia operator for assessment.

From June 2025, you'll notice changes when responding to severe active rheumatoid arthritis eligibility questions via the Online PBS Authorities system. In preparation for these changes, Services Australia recommends you start documenting your patient’s baseline values and previous treatment failures in their medical records. This will help if you need to provide previously supplied information to demonstrate patient eligibility for change, recommencement, and continuing treatments.

Services Australia would like to offer you the opportunity to attend an information session, via Microsoft Teams, to go through the upcoming changes and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

If you would like to attend, email authorities.comms.change@servicesaustralia.gov.au by COB 22 May 2025 and Services Australia will send you a meeting invitation

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians publishes notices of events as a service to members. Such publication does not constitute endorsement or mandating of the event.