Political
$3.5b unlikely to arrest decline in bulk billing
GPs who have abandoned bulk billing are unlikely to be lured back by the government’s $3.5 billion incentive package Incentives designed to boost bulk billing rates are likely to be …
‘Pharmacists don’t clip the ticket’
Suggestions that pharmacists are seen as “retailers… clipping the ticket” and not health professionals, have infuriated pharmacists Minister for Finance, Senator Katy Gallagher, is being accused of enraging the entire …
60-day dispensing unlikely to impact supply: Sansom
Warnings of medicines shortages stemming from the introduction of double dispensing are unlikely to come to pass Australia’s medicines supply chain should be capable of meeting the change in demand …
Double dispensing impact analysis falls short of ‘good practice’
Impact analysis used to support the decision to introduce double dispensing would have benefited from more consultations with pharmacists, a bureaucrat believes An assessment of the impact analysis used to …
RUM Project may need funding boost
Additional funding may be required to support the collection and disposal of unused medicines stemming from the introduction of 60-day dispensing Plans to increase the quantities of medications dispensed on …
‘Clipping the ticket’ comment sparks pharmacy fury
Community pharmacists seek apology from federal Minister for Finance over ‘clipping the ticket’ remark Senator Katy Gallagher is attracting the ire of community pharmacists after a speech in the Senate …
The week in review
It was a challenging week for Australia’s community pharmacy sector, as Treasurer, Jim Chalmers announced the federal Budget, while pleas for MBS provider numbers were also knocked back Efforts to win …
60-day dispensing a ‘Pink Batts’ scheme
Double dispensing is being compared to Labor’s short-lived ‘Pink Batts’ scheme, by one rural pharmacist Regional and rural communities are set to face a “perfect storm” with “no doctors and …
Senator seeks pharmacy compensation scheme
Pharmacies should be given access to a reimbursement scheme to support them through the transition to 60-day dispensing A two-year double dispensing transitional support package should be introduced to ensure …
‘Millions of patients will lose’; Twomey
Guild president’s Forefront editorial goes in hard against double-dispensing “Millions of people in every single community in Australia will be worse off’ if the government doesn’t guarantee no patient or …
How quickly they forget
Efforts to ensure patients retained access to face-to-face primary healthcare during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic appear to be forgotten, an industry leader believes Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers’ decision …
Petition fails to move Minister
Pharmacists will not be getting Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) provider numbers any time soon, Moves to provide individual MBS provider numbers to pharmacists will require a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical …