Special Authority Renewal

Renewals of Special Authority

A special authority needs to be renewed every two years.  If you are due for a renewal we may be able to help.

Standard Cases

Your GP will need to send us a comprehensive referral, outlining the course of treatment, your dosage, any side effects, and any benefits. Our team can then review your case and, if appropriate, endorse the renewal of special authority.

To proceed, we need to know the following:

• What is the current dosing regime?
• Is the client deriving benefit from treatment?
• Are there any side effects?
• Are there any concerns about diversion or similar?

Complex Cases

If your case is complex, for example, you were diagnosed outside of New Zealand, or you have had special authority in the past, but have not taken medication for a prolonged period and you want to start again, or there are other medical factors that need to be taken into consideration, then we may be able to help.

Your GP will need to send us a referral and a copy of your diagnostic report. You will be asked to complete some psychometric forms, and we will arrange to see you virtually to gather additional information. 

If appropriate, we will then endorse the renewal of special authority which will be managed by your GP.

Without a GP referral

If your GP cannot provide a referral, you will be asked to provide a copy of your diagnostic report, complete some psychometric forms, and we will arrange to see you virtually to gather information. 

If appropriate, we will then endorse the renewal of special authority which will be managed by your GP. We will need to know which GP surgery you are registered with so we can send them the letter of endorsement.

Existing ADHD Diagnosis: Multidisciplinary Review and 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

You will need:

• A copy of your completed psychological assessment confirming a diagnosis of ADHD
• A referral from your GP (who will be prescribing any medication that is recommended)

When you have confirmed that you have the report and the GP referral, you will need to purchase the service.

During the checkout steps, you will be able to 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 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 write to your GP endorsing their application for Special Authority. Your GP will then be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.

If our team determines that there is insufficient evidence to support the diagnosis, we will work with you to attempt to resolve the identified concerns.

Medication

Our team does not prescribe stimulant medication. Instead, we write to your GP endorsing their application for Special Authority and then your GP will be responsible for initiating your medication and providing ongoing prescriptions.

Medical Practitioners

Referral Information

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.

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:

1. In-person medical evaluation: Because our service is online-only, we need GPs (or nurses) to conduct any required physical examinations.
    
2. Cost-effectiveness: It's more affordable for clients to see their GP for prescriptions and for follow-up appointments, rather than a psychiatrist.
    
3. Limited psychiatric resources: Due to the limited availability of psychiatrists in New Zealand, having GPs manage the special authority and 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.
    
4. Medication prescriptions: For certain medications, like stimulants for ADHD, GPs need special authority to prescribe. This authority requires a psychiatrist's endorsement, which we provide. We 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.