PBS co-pay increase ‘necessary’
August 26, 2014
THE Department of Health’s
submission to the inquiry into the
proposed increased Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme (PBS) co-payments
and safety nets has said these
are not only reasonable and
proportionate, but necessary.
The submission said this was due
to the factors driving PBS growth
in the longer term and the need to
boost medical innovation through
research.
The Department said the average
impact on general patients would
be $10 more in contributions in
2015, based on average use of two
subsidised prescriptions.
The average concessional
patients would pay $14.60 more
in contributions next year, based
on an average use of 17 subsidised
prescriptions each year, it said.
Concessional patients over 65
years would pay an extra $24.
By comparison, the University
of Sydney BEACH study said for
general patients, the additional
cost of medications per year would
range from $1.15 for children to
$27.77 in adults aged 65 or older.
Concessional patients would see
an average additional cost ranging
from $3.11 for children to $29.65 in
adults aged 65 or over.
To read more, CLICK HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 26 Aug 14To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 26 Aug 14
