Time to hang up on the PBS authority line, says RACGP

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

The RACGP says replacing the authority line with a streamlined system will have no impact on patient safety and save GPs' time...

Professor Morgan, a professor of general practice at Bond University, said forcing GPs to call the authority line or request authority approval electronically “probably reduces the willingness of a very small number of GPs to prescribe medications outside of approved indications”.  

“But there are better ways to ensure prescribing is appropriate: through the use of electronic computer decision support, through CPD, through having really easy-to-access clinical guidance,” he said.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Patients say the telephone authority process feels stigmatising. They feel like they're being treated as a bad person.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“That's one reason why I don't like the telephone authority system.

“The second is it’s a waste of time that is best used for opportunistic prevention or exploring psychosocial aspects of the presentation. Thirdly, it's little bit of an insult to the professionalism of GPs." 

Subject

Primary Care

Quality Use of Medicines

Period10 Nov 2021

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleTime to hang up on the PBS authority line, says RACGP
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletAustralian Doctor
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date10/11/21
    DescriptionThe RACGP says replacing the authority line with a streamlined system will have no impact on patient safety and save GPs' time...
    Professor Morgan said the streamlined authority system was enough of a safety check while minimising the administrative burden on GPs...
    “Streamlined authority allows the system to monitor that medicines are being used for the appropriate indication and at the appropriate dose, and to link the indication to the prescription,” he said.
    Professor Morgan, a professor of general practice at Bond University, said forcing GPs to call the authority line or request authority approval electronically “probably reduces the willingness of a very small number of GPs to prescribe medications outside of approved indications”.

    “But there are better ways to ensure prescribing is appropriate: through the use of electronic computer decision support, through CPD, through having really easy-to-access clinical guidance,” he said.

    “Patients say the telephone authority process feels stigmatising. They feel like they're being treated as a bad person.

    “That's one reason why I don't like the telephone authority system.

    “The second is it’s a waste of time that is best used for opportunistic prevention or exploring psychosocial aspects of the presentation. Thirdly, it's little bit of an insult to the professionalism of GPs."
    Producer/AuthorAntony Scholefield
    URLhttps://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/time-hang-pbs-authority-line-says-racgp?mkt_tok=MjE5LVNHSi02NTkAAAGAp1sVE7tj0rr2J-4OfE2dVGLaZ3ry3gW02Py2iUI54Ek3GiYBeECFxmoCWuB7UUCBUAd81IFYYnXKraz17obi_pD2zV93tJtYMEALuB3APF3x
    PersonsMark Morgan