THE Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program has been expanded to include section 100 (S100) PBS medicines dispensed by community pharmacies, approved medical practitioners, and private hospitals in Australia.
This expansion is in addition to the section 85 (general schedule) medicines which are also dispensed under this program.
The initiative also covers all section 100 PBS medicines supplied under Continued Dispensing arrangements.
Starting from 01 Jan 2025, the program will extend to all section 85 and 100 PBS medicines currently dispensed by public hospitals around the country.
The CTG PBS Co-payment Program aims to improve access to PBS medicines for First Nations people with or at risk of chronic diseases, and addresses the significant barrier of medicine costs.
It helps ensure they can adhere to their prescribed medication regimen, reducing the likelihood of setbacks in the prevention or management of their conditions.
Registered participants on the CTG PBS Co-payment Register who would normally pay the full general PBS co-payment amount now pay the concessional rate.
Those who already pay the concessional rate receive their medicines for free, without any co-payment costs.
Additionally, the Remote Area Aboriginal Health Services (RAAHS) program complements this initiative by allowing clients in remote areas to receive free PBS medicines directly from their RAAHS without the need for a normal PBS script. JG
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