PBS
The price disclosure roadmap
The next batch of medicines to undergo price disclosure reductions has been revealed The PBS has released the list of medicines that are to be included in the October 2020 …
New advice on combinations
PBS issues new claiming advice on opioid combinations as listing changes take effect From yesterday (1 June 2020) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings have changed for opioid products. The PBS …
Built-in flexibility
Government moves to temporarily ease PBS authority restrictions during pandemic crisis The Australian Government is implementing a temporary measure that allows flexibility around PBS restrictions for eligible PBS medicines to …
Getting the right agreement
In the second of a series, Kim Brotherson, Pharmacy 777 Managing Director, discusses five crucial objectives for the 7CPA In the first of this series, we looked at the scene …
A flawed agenda
The Government’s current narrow focus on 60-day dispensing and the $1 discount is doing little to ease fears that universal access to medicines is under threat from its determination to …
Come join the fight
Guild issues call to members to join it in fighting the Government’s 60-day scripts push and advocating for permanent continued dispensing by pharmacists The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says it …
Owing prescriptions – are you courting danger?
The recent devastating bushfires have meant pharmacists have needed to dispense emergency supplies of medications without prescriptions. PDL advises on how this can be done without putting your patients, or …
PBS access during bushfires ensured
Government passes emergency measures to ensure patients affected by bushfires can access PBS subsidy for medicines when doctor’s script not immediately available Continued dispensing arrangements have been extended to 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 …