We know how expensive and complicated modern healthcare can be. Whether you're part of the aged care sector or not, it can easily become a financial and emotional drain if you don't stay on top of things.

This is especially true in the news recently after the community pharmacy peak body claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines.

The government has hit back after the community pharmacy sector claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines. Credit: Shutterstock.

The government is defending its controversial new dispensing policy, which allows Aussies to fill two-month prescriptions for the price of one. Earlier, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia warned that seniors would foot an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions over the move.

Health Minister Mark Butler condemned the community pharmacy peak body over its latest claim, calling it a ‘campaign’ designed to 'scare’ aged care residents relying on subsidised medication.

He said, 'The pharmacy lobby and the Liberal Party have tried to scare vulnerable aged care residents that they would have to pay extra because of this measure to save six million patients from having to get their prescription filled every single month…'

'This is a cynical scare campaign from the pharmacy lobby that should be rejected,' he said.

'We are determined to deliver this cheaper medicines reform for six million patients, and we're determined, also, to protect aged care residents in the same process.'

Currently, community pharmacies are distributing medicines to 188,000 elderly Australians living in residential aged-care facilities each week at zero cost through subsidies for pharmacy dispensing fees.

Anthony Tassone, the guild's Vice President, earlier said, 'The true costs of that service have been absorbed through the pharmacies and funded through dispensing remuneration to make sure that patients get the right medicine, in the right dose, at the right time.'

'But that's at risk if we don't get cheaper medicines the right way,' he added.

The guild strongly opposed the reform, arguing that it would cut funding for around 6000 community pharmacies by half, affecting their ability to dispense medicine.

However, the Office of Impact Analysis presents a different perspective. Their modelling suggests that, on average, the funding reduction for dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication would be around 18 per cent after four years.

Despite the organisation's claims, the government estimated that 6 million Australians would benefit from the policy, which halved the price of more than 320 medicines covered by the PBS from September.

Minister Butler also shared during a press conference that he plans to advance discussions about the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement by a year.

This agreement, intended to be established between the government and the community pharmacy sector before mid-2024, aims to define payment arrangements for pharmacies regarding dispensing medications and offering additional services such as organising dose administration aids and conducting medication reviews.

Despite their ongoing efforts to prevent the implementation of new dispensation regulations, the guild is anticipated to be among the parties endorsing this new agreement.

Key Takeaways

• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed that aged-care residents will face an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions due to Labor's new 60-day dispensing rules.
• Health Minister Mark Butler has condemned the community pharmacy peak body over this claim, calling it a 'cynical scare campaign'.
• While the guild states the changes will halve their funding, an impact analysis report estimates only an average reduction of 18% in the dispensing of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication over four years.
• Mr Butler is willing to start negotiations early on the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, due 2024, which will formalise compensation to pharmacies for dispensing medication and running other services.

Members, what are your thoughts on this? We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment in the section below!

 

[Catherines]

What do you mean by 'private scripts"?

My daughter had that happen to her, but hers were private scripts. One pack is 20 tablets and she takes 1 per day. Instead of 21 days, it is now 28 days. She is without medication for 8 days instead of just one.

 

[Catherines]

Seriously what the hell is the matter with people, my advice is don’t listen to the stupidity of the media who like to do nothing more than scare us with wrong information. If, like me am at the moment on the safety net for medications and being a pensioner paying $7.30 for all medications am sure my chemist will only give out what I require when I want them.
If you want 2 months supply do it otherwise just continue what you are doing.

EXACTLY.

 

[Catherines]

I can tell you by experience, since Labor has been in a medication I need to take monthly and being 120 tablets per month, they have now told the Doctor that I can only get 60 tablets per fortnight, and pay for the other 60 tablets even though I have reached the safety net I cannot get the extra tablets without paying for them. As we all know, you can only fill a script every 3 weeks. A cunning move by them. So Yes, I believe this is going to happen for age pensioners as I am one now, although I am not in a nursing home.

This is a bit confusing - isn't 60 every fortnight pretty much the same as 120 a month or every 4 weeks?

 

[Leenie]

I don't trust politicians. Neither the LNP nor the ALP nor any other overpaid politician gives a damn about the rundown of our public hospitals so why should I trust them about pharmacy charges? The LNP Premeier of Tasmania is about to give himself a rise of $161000 per yer year, which he doesn't need, and also a hike in travel allowance, petrol perks etc. and such types of pay rises etc are being given to all other Tasmanian Parliament politicians. Our Royal Hobart Hospital sees ramping of ambulances quite frequently and the Emergency Department staff are overloaded with work. Our Ambo staff do a brilliant job and there are too few of them.

A junior intern doctor, of the sort that staff Emergency Departments, get paid around $80 000 per year for 70-80 hour working weeks and who carry massive HECs debts at around 7.5% interest to have got their Degree in Medicine (these days it commonly has to a post-graduate degree which means 8 years at university, unpaid). So our Tasmanian pollies are each stealing a couple of junior doctors from our public hospital in Hobart. Or two or three Emergency nurses. Australian politicians? Scum.

Happening all over Australia here In qld ambos ramping for hrs ,patients lined up in hallways ,no beds a catastrophe waiting to happen ,some people have died waiting for ambulances to arrive where does it stop ,we should have the right to sack these useless politicians, they are only there for themselves ,to hell with the rest of us .

 

[Leenie]

This is a bit confusing - isn't 60 every fortnight pretty much the same as 120 a month or every 4 weeks?

You are confused she has to pay for half of the medication when the lot should be free .

 

[Rob44]

My advice? Follow the Money!!

Yes; given a choice between getting that First Class Honours Degree and then doing a four-year uni course in Medicine , become an investor banker after that First Class Honoursrs degree. You will be on a $1 million a year by 33 years old if you do that job adequately. Otherwise you will be 4 years down in earning your income as an intern in a Public Hospital and doing day or night shifts of 12-14 hours for 6 days a week on around $80 000 per year. Why become a medical doctor? Social status, and that's it. The big money only comes when you have specialised (3 to 6 years Royal College course-work, if accepted, whilst working and maintaining your family) and you are established and recognised as specialist at about 35-45 years of age.

 

[Leenie]

This is a bit confusing - isn't 60 every fortnight pretty much the same as 120 a month or every 4 weeks?

You are confused she has to pay for half the medication when the lot should be free

 

[Rob44]

Happening all over Australia here In qld ambos ramping for hrs ,patients lined up in hallways ,no beds a catastrophe waiting to happen ,some people have died waiting for ambulances to arrive where does it stop ,we should have the right to sack these useless politicians, they are only there for themselves ,to hell with the rest of us .

They say that scum always floats to the top. With good reason.

 

[Tipsy]

Seriously what the hell is the matter with people, my advice is don’t listen to the stupidity of the media who like to do nothing more than scare us with wrong information. If, like me am at the moment on the safety net for medications and being a pensioner paying $7.30 for all medications am sure my chemist will only give out what I require when I want them.
If you want 2 months supply do it otherwise just continue what you are doing.

7.30 in what state, here in QLD I pay 6.50 per script for PBS meds until I reach the threshold (whatever it is) then they are free.

 

[ElleJay]

Does anyone know the definition of "community pharmacies"? Does it just mean all pharmacies or only certain ones? I go to a Priceline pharmacy in a shopping centre, is that a community pharmacy?

 

[Suet]

We know how expensive and complicated modern healthcare can be. Whether you're part of the aged care sector or not, it can easily become a financial and emotional drain if you don't stay on top of things.

This is especially true in the news recently after the community pharmacy peak body claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines.

View attachment 26928

The government has hit back after the community pharmacy sector claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines. Credit: Shutterstock.

The government is defending its controversial new dispensing policy, which allows Aussies to fill two-month prescriptions for the price of one. Earlier, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia warned that seniors would foot an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions over the move.

Health Minister Mark Butler condemned the community pharmacy peak body over its latest claim, calling it a ‘campaign’ designed to 'scare’ aged care residents relying on subsidised medication.

He said, 'The pharmacy lobby and the Liberal Party have tried to scare vulnerable aged care residents that they would have to pay extra because of this measure to save six million patients from having to get their prescription filled every single month…'

'This is a cynical scare campaign from the pharmacy lobby that should be rejected,' he said.

'We are determined to deliver this cheaper medicines reform for six million patients, and we're determined, also, to protect aged care residents in the same process.'

Currently, community pharmacies are distributing medicines to 188,000 elderly Australians living in residential aged-care facilities each week at zero cost through subsidies for pharmacy dispensing fees.

Anthony Tassone, the guild's Vice President, earlier said, 'The true costs of that service have been absorbed through the pharmacies and funded through dispensing remuneration to make sure that patients get the right medicine, in the right dose, at the right time.'

'But that's at risk if we don't get cheaper medicines the right way,' he added.

The guild strongly opposed the reform, arguing that it would cut funding for around 6000 community pharmacies by half, affecting their ability to dispense medicine.

However, the Office of Impact Analysis presents a different perspective. Their modelling suggests that, on average, the funding reduction for dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication would be around 18 per cent after four years.

Despite the organisation's claims, the government estimated that 6 million Australians would benefit from the policy, which halved the price of more than 320 medicines covered by the PBS from September.

Minister Butler also shared during a press conference that he plans to advance discussions about the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement by a year.

This agreement, intended to be established between the government and the community pharmacy sector before mid-2024, aims to define payment arrangements for pharmacies regarding dispensing medications and offering additional services such as organising dose administration aids and conducting medication reviews.

Despite their ongoing efforts to prevent the implementation of new dispensation regulations, the guild is anticipated to be among the parties endorsing this new agreement.

Key Takeaways

• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed that aged-care residents will face an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions due to Labor's new 60-day dispensing rules.
• Health Minister Mark Butler has condemned the community pharmacy peak body over this claim, calling it a 'cynical scare campaign'.
• While the guild states the changes will halve their funding, an impact analysis report estimates only an average reduction of 18% in the dispensing of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication over four years.
• Mr Butler is willing to start negotiations early on the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, due 2024, which will formalise compensation to pharmacies for dispensing medication and running other services.

Members, what are your thoughts on this? We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment in the section below!

So many Aged Care Residents are left with very little pension if any after paying care fees etc,

 

[Neilo]

We know how expensive and complicated modern healthcare can be. Whether you're part of the aged care sector or not, it can easily become a financial and emotional drain if you don't stay on top of things.

This is especially true in the news recently after the community pharmacy peak body claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines.

View attachment 26928

The government has hit back after the community pharmacy sector claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines. Credit: Shutterstock.

The government is defending its controversial new dispensing policy, which allows Aussies to fill two-month prescriptions for the price of one. Earlier, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia warned that seniors would foot an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions over the move.

Health Minister Mark Butler condemned the community pharmacy peak body over its latest claim, calling it a ‘campaign’ designed to 'scare’ aged care residents relying on subsidised medication.

He said, 'The pharmacy lobby and the Liberal Party have tried to scare vulnerable aged care residents that they would have to pay extra because of this measure to save six million patients from having to get their prescription filled every single month…'

'This is a cynical scare campaign from the pharmacy lobby that should be rejected,' he said.

'We are determined to deliver this cheaper medicines reform for six million patients, and we're determined, also, to protect aged care residents in the same process.'

Currently, community pharmacies are distributing medicines to 188,000 elderly Australians living in residential aged-care facilities each week at zero cost through subsidies for pharmacy dispensing fees.

Anthony Tassone, the guild's Vice President, earlier said, 'The true costs of that service have been absorbed through the pharmacies and funded through dispensing remuneration to make sure that patients get the right medicine, in the right dose, at the right time.'

'But that's at risk if we don't get cheaper medicines the right way,' he added.

The guild strongly opposed the reform, arguing that it would cut funding for around 6000 community pharmacies by half, affecting their ability to dispense medicine.

However, the Office of Impact Analysis presents a different perspective. Their modelling suggests that, on average, the funding reduction for dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication would be around 18 per cent after four years.

Despite the organisation's claims, the government estimated that 6 million Australians would benefit from the policy, which halved the price of more than 320 medicines covered by the PBS from September.

Minister Butler also shared during a press conference that he plans to advance discussions about the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement by a year.

This agreement, intended to be established between the government and the community pharmacy sector before mid-2024, aims to define payment arrangements for pharmacies regarding dispensing medications and offering additional services such as organising dose administration aids and conducting medication reviews.

Despite their ongoing efforts to prevent the implementation of new dispensation regulations, the guild is anticipated to be among the parties endorsing this new agreement.

Key Takeaways

• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed that aged-care residents will face an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions due to Labor's new 60-day dispensing rules.
• Health Minister Mark Butler has condemned the community pharmacy peak body over this claim, calling it a 'cynical scare campaign'.
• While the guild states the changes will halve their funding, an impact analysis report estimates only an average reduction of 18% in the dispensing of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication over four years.
• Mr Butler is willing to start negotiations early on the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, due 2024, which will formalise compensation to pharmacies for dispensing medication and running other services.

Members, what are your thoughts on this? We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment in the section below!

We should be able to choose for ourselves rather than be told what's better for us.

 

[Leenie]

We should be able to choose for ourselves rather than be told what's better for us.

Exactly

 

[Catherines]

7.30 in what state, here in QLD I pay 6.50 per script for PBS meds until I reach the threshold (whatever it is) then they are free.

The ‘regular & standard price’ of a script is $7.30 here in Qld. You must be getting your scripts from one of those pharmacies that originally started offering the $5.50 scripts where they said you could save $1 when they were the previous $6.50 each. Yes that was a saving per script but it also meant it took longer to reach the PBS threshold. You need to Check this info with the pharmacy you get your medicines from. Ultimately the PBS threshold remains the same & $6.50 or $7.30 makes no total difference, I believe.

 

[Pudpye]

Gree

We know how expensive and complicated modern healthcare can be. Whether you're part of the aged care sector or not, it can easily become a financial and emotional drain if you don't stay on top of things.

This is especially true in the news recently after the community pharmacy peak body claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines.

View attachment 26928

The government has hit back after the community pharmacy sector claimed one group of Australians could be hit with soaring costs for medicines. Credit: Shutterstock.

The government is defending its controversial new dispensing policy, which allows Aussies to fill two-month prescriptions for the price of one. Earlier, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia warned that seniors would foot an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions over the move.

Health Minister Mark Butler condemned the community pharmacy peak body over its latest claim, calling it a ‘campaign’ designed to 'scare’ aged care residents relying on subsidised medication.

He said, 'The pharmacy lobby and the Liberal Party have tried to scare vulnerable aged care residents that they would have to pay extra because of this measure to save six million patients from having to get their prescription filled every single month…'

'This is a cynical scare campaign from the pharmacy lobby that should be rejected,' he said.

'We are determined to deliver this cheaper medicines reform for six million patients, and we're determined, also, to protect aged care residents in the same process.'

Currently, community pharmacies are distributing medicines to 188,000 elderly Australians living in residential aged-care facilities each week at zero cost through subsidies for pharmacy dispensing fees.

Anthony Tassone, the guild's Vice President, earlier said, 'The true costs of that service have been absorbed through the pharmacies and funded through dispensing remuneration to make sure that patients get the right medicine, in the right dose, at the right time.'

'But that's at risk if we don't get cheaper medicines the right way,' he added.

The guild strongly opposed the reform, arguing that it would cut funding for around 6000 community pharmacies by half, affecting their ability to dispense medicine.

However, the Office of Impact Analysis presents a different perspective. Their modelling suggests that, on average, the funding reduction for dispensing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication would be around 18 per cent after four years.

Despite the organisation's claims, the government estimated that 6 million Australians would benefit from the policy, which halved the price of more than 320 medicines covered by the PBS from September.

Minister Butler also shared during a press conference that he plans to advance discussions about the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement by a year.

This agreement, intended to be established between the government and the community pharmacy sector before mid-2024, aims to define payment arrangements for pharmacies regarding dispensing medications and offering additional services such as organising dose administration aids and conducting medication reviews.

Despite their ongoing efforts to prevent the implementation of new dispensation regulations, the guild is anticipated to be among the parties endorsing this new agreement.

Key Takeaways

• The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed that aged-care residents will face an $806 annual bill for weekly prescriptions due to Labor's new 60-day dispensing rules.
• Health Minister Mark Butler has condemned the community pharmacy peak body over this claim, calling it a 'cynical scare campaign'.
• While the guild states the changes will halve their funding, an impact analysis report estimates only an average reduction of 18% in the dispensing of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication over four years.
• Mr Butler is willing to start negotiations early on the Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement, due 2024, which will formalise compensation to pharmacies for dispensing medication and running other services.

Members, what are your thoughts on this? We'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment in the section below!

dy

 

[Pudpye]

Greedy pharmacist trying to gouge pensioners again.

 

[Hostie]

Seriously what the hell is the matter with people, my advice is don’t listen to the stupidity of the media who like to do nothing more than scare us with wrong information. If, like me am at the moment on the safety net for medications and being a pensioner paying $7.30 for all medications am sure my chemist will only give out what I require when I want them.
If you want 2 months supply do it otherwise just continue what you are doing.

Like you I am a pensioner and on the safety net. I spoke to my pharmacist about the situation and was advised to make sure I ask for 30 day prescriptions which I will certainly be doing. Firstly, to save money and secondly to support my small pharmacy with a wonderful team dedicated to its clients' welfare.

 

[Leenie]

Greedy pharmacist trying to gouge pensioners again.

Who isn’t these days.

 

[Leenie]

Like you I am a pensioner and on the safety net. I spoke to my pharmacist about the situation and was advised to make sure I ask for 30 day prescriptions which I will certainly be doing. Firstly, to save money and secondly to support my small pharmacy with a wonderful team dedicated to its clients' welfare.

As will I I have a great chemist ,born locally

 

[siameezer]

Just my thoughts although I haven't looked into this thoroughly - I feel many of the comments here are way off.

It is my belief that you still have to pay for e ach script i.e 1 script = 1 month's supply = $7.30 (pensioner cost), 2 scripts at one time = 2 month's supply = $14.60. But you still have to pay for each script whether it is dispensed as one or two scripts at the same time. For a pensioner that is $7.30 FOR EACH SCRIPT.

You can also opt out of the 2 scripts at one time and just take your one script a month, go back next month for the next script. No one is forcing you to get two scripts at a time. You still reach your Safety Net after paying out the same amount of money.

Some people on multiple 'prescription only' medicines will not be able to afford getting two month's supply in one hit. Of course, if you are taking many other multivitamins (not covered by the PBS) then your expense each month will be much higher and your total bill will be bigger. I am on 7 prescription medicines, not all finish at the same time in a month (some two a day and others only 1 a day) - as a result we reached our safety net (husband and I) in May.

It is TWO months supply for the price of ONE month ... so in the example you provided TWO months supply would cost the pensioner $7.30.