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!

 

[Shane/#]

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!

I'm taking 3 tablets a day so instead of seeing my doctor more each year for the scripts at 80 dollars a visit how is this going to cost more the pharmacy sector want to leave it alone so they get more money per script as for the LNP government if they could have would have sold every aged care homes to the private sector and the Medicare system as well then the rich would be covered the rest would have a sub-standard system and how many died in private aged care compared to government run food for thought there

 

[Reet]

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!

At the present time if you are registered with a pharmacy you will get a discount after your reach the threshold of paying for your subscriptions. What happens to this discount after the new ruling comes in?

 

[Reet]

The new system will prove very expensive for the pharmacies as they will have to provide extra room to cater for the extra supplies they need to carry and if most people get two months supply of their medications what happens when the pharmacy runs out of supplies before some people manage to get there in time. The pharmacy will also have to pay for extra supplies before they can be sold so I don't see them making any profit at all.

 

[atomace]

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!

Anyone believing The Labor Government, is a moron

 

[Leenie]

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.

Anyone believing The Labor Government, is a moron

More penny pinching by the Labor gov they need more of your money to waste why not hit the pensioners they are an easy target.

 

[PepeLePew]

A friend of mine was dumped in Aged Care by her daughter earlier this year. After the Home takes their cut of her pension she is left with $110.00 a mth, that's $1,320.00 a yr. Now deduct the $806.00 per year to have her medications sent to the home and she is left with $514.00 a year (or approx $18.00 a fortnight) to buy anything personal that she needs or wants. How in the hell is that a quality of life for anybody?

 

[Gsr]

I don’t see why people in aged care homes will have to pay more for medications. They will only be getting the same as they do now, the difference being if they get two months at a time the pharmacy will do less deliveries, so therefore they will save money. The nursing home my mother in law was in before she passed away had one large delivery per month for all the residents, then only a delivery if a new resident came in or a residents medication changed. Since most Drs don’t visit these facilities very often unless a resident gets sick, then they are usually shipped off to hospital quick smart if they do, there is minimal changes to residents medications.