Changes to PBS authority level and restrictions for GLP-1 Ras

  • For patients initiating therapy with GLP-1 RAs, the authority type for all indications was changed from Authority Required (STREAMLINED) to Authority Required (telephone/electronic).5 
  • For patients continuing therapy with GLP-1 RAs, the authority type continues to be Authority Required (STREAMLINED).5
  • To access PBS-subsidised GLP-1 RA therapy, patients must be contraindicated, intolerant, or must not have achieved a clinically meaningful glycaemic response to a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. The definition of a ‘clinically meaningful glycaemic response’ has been left to prescriber discretion in the context of the individual patient.5
  • The restrictions have been revised to clarify that GLP-1 RAs: 
    • are only PBS-subsidised for use in combination with at least one of: metformin, a sulfonylurea, insulin. 
    • are not subsidised for use in combination with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor. 
    • are not subsidised for use in combination with an SGLT2 inhibitor, except where the SGLT2 inhibitor is prescribed for a different indication (e.g. heart failure or kidney disease) and the patient did not achieve a clinically meaningful glycaemic response to the SGLT2 inhibitor.5
    • Patients who have previously received a PBS-subsidised prescription for a GLP-1 RA can access this medicine via the streamlined listing. They do not need to requalify for access under the revised restriction.5

 

  1. PBS restriction changes to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) medicines. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care; 2024 Available from: www.pbs.gov.au/info/reviews/pbs-restriction-changesto-type-2-diabetes-mellitus-t2dm-medicines (accessed 6 June 2024)
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