PBS
New legislation to better detect PBS fraud
A bill is being considered to give the government more powers to investigate PBS and MBS fraud, including claims for medicines that have not been supplied Health Minister Greg Hunt …
Medicines relatively affordable, price index reveals
New figures show medicines in Australia are cheap in comparison to other countries US medicines are 307% more expensive than the median global cost but Australian medicines are 25% cheaper, …
‘This bill won’t fix the crisis.’
Bill to reduce PBS safety net thresholds from 1 January 2020 has now passed both Houses, but Labor criticises government on medicines costs The National Health Amendment (Safety Net Thresholds) …
Formula fraud flat leave to appeal dismissed
A couple who found themselves embroiled in “an incredible series of events” involving an $18 million-plus PBS fraud have lost a bid to keep their home The applicants, Zeinab Youssef …
PBAC accused of ‘bullying’ drug companies into giving free drugs
Uncertainty for migraine patients and pharmacists is likely to persist as Novartis pulls PBS application for Aimovig This week Novartis decided to no longer proceed with a third Aimovig (erenumab) …
The week in review
The media is still having a go at community pharmacy, while politicians have discussed the PBS in a busy week for the sector We discovered new data on the value …
Pharmacy’s financial crisis and slave labour
Australia can wave goodbye to any expansion of pharmacy services unless the falling remuneration from PBS prescriptions is addressed, award-winning pharmacist tells politicians Speaking after being honoured for his service …
War of words over PBS reform
Medicines underspend is helping prop up our budget surplus, says pharmacist MP as parties take potshots over PBS bill There was acrimonious debate in Federal Parliament last week over proposed …
Dosing on the agenda
Decision on PPI double dosing deferred by PBAC, but support given to antibiotic listing changes The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has deferred a decision on whether to allow twice …
‘Pharmacies compete fiercely on script prices.’
The current system benefits patients and drives competition on medicines, argues this community pharmacist The main features of the Australian Healthcare system are the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the …
Not the desired effect
Restrictions on alprazolam prescribing have failed to curb usage, with sales of bigger packs on the increase Measures introduced in 2017 to prevent potentially harmful usage of alprazolam have failed …
PBS dispensing a ‘very effective’ public-private partnership?
Call for Federal, State and Territory governments to work together to promote pharmacists’ role, and ‘nurture’ the 5700-strong community pharmacy network The PBS is a strong system of universal access …