Special Authority Renewals
Pharmac have announced that the special authority renewal criteria has been removed for specific stimulant treatments
From 1 December 2024, the renewal criteria will be removed from methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, and modafinil, making it easier for people who need these treatments to access them.
- What does this mean for you?
Methylphenidate, dexamfetamine, and modafinil are funded for the treatment of ADHD.
Anyone starting on a stimulant treatment which requires a Special Authority approval, will be able to access funded treatment without the requirement for this approval to be renewed.
Anyone with a current or recent (expired within the last two years) Special Authority approval for these treatments will automatically be issued an approval that is valid without the need for it to be renewed. Pharmac and Health New Zealand will manage this so people do not need to do anything for this to happen.
Special Authority Application
For clients with expired Special Authority approval
If your Special Authority for stimulant treatment expired more than two years ago, you will need to speak to your doctor about your treatment options. People who stopped stimulant treatment more than two years ago may be less likely to require stimulant treatment and therefore would need to meet the eligibility criteria for initiation again.
If stimulant treatment is required, your GP will need to refer you to us, and a new Special Authority application would need to be submitted.
- How it works
Your doctor will need to send us:
- A referral AND
- A copy of your completed psychological assessment confirming a diagnosis of ADHD
Once we have received these documents, we will send you a link to purchase the service.
During the checkout steps, you will book an appointment with a member of our clinical team to have a brief consultation. After purchasing the service, you will also be sent a link to some questionnaires for you to complete.
- Special Authority
The information you and your doctor provide will be reviewed by our multidisciplinary team, which includes input from both a registered psychologist and psychiatrist.
If appropriate, we will then apply for Special Authority before referring you back to your GP to manage your prescription.
- Prescriptions
Our team does not prescribe stimulant medication. Instead, we apply for special authority and then refer you back to your GP who will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.
- Medication Changes
Medication changes due to ineffectiveness or side effects
As part of our duty of care, our clinical team is available for GPs to consult with regarding medication changes, side effect management, or alternative medication options.We are happy to provide ongoing support to ensure patients find the most suitable treatment plan.
To change medication
Your doctor will need to send us a referral with the following information:
- Medication/s that have been trialed
- Dose
- Duration of trial
- Effects / Side Effects
Existing ADHD Diagnosis: Multidisciplinary Review and Special Authority
For clients without previously approved Special Authority
If you have had a formal assessment, and have been diagnosed by a registered psychologist in the past, and you are considering the use of stimulant medication to treat your symptoms, we may be able to help.
- How it works
Your doctor will need to send us:
- A referral AND
- A copy of your completed psychological assessment confirming a diagnosis of ADHD
Once we have received these documents, we will send you a link to purchase the service.
During the checkout steps, you will book an appointment with a member of our clinical team to have a brief consultation. After purchasing the service, you will also be sent a link to some questionnaires for you to complete.
- Review + Special Authority
The information you and your doctor provide will be reviewed by our multidisciplinary team, which includes input from both a registered psychologist and psychiatrist.
If our team determines that the information provided is sufficient to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, and there are no contraindications, we will apply for Special Authority and refer you back to your GP, who will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.
If our team determines that there is not sufficient evidence to support the diagnosis, we will work with you to attempt to resolve the identified concerns.
- Prescriptions
Our team does not prescribe stimulant medication. Instead, we apply for special authority and then refer you back to your GP who will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.
- Medication Changes
Medication changes due to ineffectiveness or side effects
As part of our duty of care, our clinical team is available for GPs to consult with regarding medication changes, side effect management, or alternative medication options.We are happy to provide ongoing support to ensure patients find the most suitable treatment plan.
To change medication
Your doctor will need to send us a referral with the following information:
- Medication/s that have been trialed
- Dose
- Duration of trial
- Effects / Side Effects
Medical Practitioners
- How to Refer to NZTN
We are currently listed on ERMS (NZ Telepsych Network).
If you are not a user of ERMS, please send any referrals to this email address and we will contact the client to start the assessment process.- The Ideal Referral
The ideal referral for our service includes:
- Patient email address and phone number
- The difficulties that are thought to be attributable to ADHD
- Past medical history
- Mental health history (or lack thereof)
- Substance use history (or lack thereof)
- Diagnostic and follow-up letters, if a diagnosis of ADHD has previously been made
- Response to stimulant medication, if applicable, and the presence or absence of side effects or concerns about misuse or diversion
If we receive this information in your referral, we will be able to proceed quickly and without needing to reach out to your team for more information.
- Why we refer back to GPs after diagnosis
After diagnosis, clients will be referred back to their GP for ongoing management and treatment for several reasons:
- In-person medical evaluation: Because our service is online-only, we need GPs (or nurses) to conduct any required physical examinations.
- Cost-effectiveness: It's more affordable for clients to see their GP for prescriptions and for follow-up appointments, rather than a psychiatrist.
- Limited psychiatric resources: Due to the limited availability of psychiatrists in New Zealand, having GPs manage the ongoing care of clients enables us to utilize the psychiatrist's expertise more resourcefully. This strategic allocation of psychiatric resources enables more patients to benefit from specialist care.
- Medication prescriptions: For certain medications, like stimulants for ADHD, GPs need special authority to prescribe. We will apply for special authority and then ask the GP to initiate and manage medication treatment. This process ensures clients receive comprehensive primary care support, and allows us to help more clients efficiently.
- In-person medical evaluation: Because our service is online-only, we need GPs (or nurses) to conduct any required physical examinations.
