FEDERAL Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, will be required to complete a review of the opioid replacement treatment (ORT) program by 01 Jul, under an amendment to the National Health Amendment (General Co-payment) Bill 2022.
The legislation was passed into law yesterday with an attached amendment from former Wallaby captain-turned-politician, David Pocock, aimed at tackling out-of-pocket costs being incurred by patients seeking to access ORT.
Addressing the Senate on Wed, Pocock noted that Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety-net protections have been removed for ORT, under a non-legislative special arrangement, despite some of the medications being PBS-listed, creating significant out-of-pocket costs for patients.
"There's no rationale for this," he said.
"People accessing opioid dependence treatments are also subject to cost-of-living pressures, including rising healthcare costs.
"It is bad policy at best and discrimination at worst to remove a nationally guaranteed protection for a group of people living with addiction disorder."
Pocock noted that current arrangements compel pharmacists to charge private dispensing fees for ORT, while costs associated with prescription opioids were covered by the PBS.
"In that regard, the cost of the poison can be cheaper than their treatment," he said.
"This special arrangement has baked in a financial disincentive for people to start treatment.
"This arrangement also negatively impacts community pharmacies.
"These are small businesses that have to make decisions to accrue debt in the interests of providing good health care, and that's exactly what they're doing across the country.
"In a survey of pharmacies in NSW and Victoria, over 70% reported that they were providing credit - often bad credit - to patients who are unable to pay their dispensing fees.
"While it speaks to the integrity of our healthcare providers that they are willing to make these decisions, they shouldn't have to."
A spokesperson for Pocock told Pharmacy Daily that the amendment would ensure Parliament could scrutinise future arrangements for ORT programs, and get rid of private dispensing fees.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 28 Oct 22
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 28 Oct 22
