Image-based prescribing to end on 31 March
The National Health (COVID-19 Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Special Arrangement 2020, more commonly referred to as ‘image-based prescribing’, will end for the majority of doctors on 31 March, with an extension for hospitals until 31 March 2023.
The AMA has been working with the Department of Health to limit the impact this will have on patients. We understand that the Department will continue to work with the jurisdictions and that there will be some limited continuations to support the ongoing management of COVID-19 cases in the community.
The Department of Health introduced ‘image-based prescribing’ in March 2020 as an interim arrangement while electronic prescribing capabilities were being developed. The AMA successfully advocated for an extension to image-based prescribing when it was originally due to expire during the Omicron wave in December last year.
Electronic prescribing will continue and doctors that cannot access electronic prescribing through their software will continue to have options that existed before image-based prescribing to enable remote support to their patients. More information is available here.
The AMA encourages members with questions to contact eprescribing@health.gov.au
