Remote allowance changes
March 13, 2012
THE eligibility criteria for the
Rural Pharmacy Maintenance
Allowance (RPMA) will change from
01 July 2012.
The RPMA is a monthly allowance
paid to rural pharmacies based on
the remoteness of the pharmacy
(as assessed by the Pharmacy
Accessibility Remoteness Index)
and the level of PBS and RPBS
prescriptions claimed, and is
designed to offset the additional
financial burden of maintaining a
pharmacy in rural and remote areas.
According to the Department of
Health and Ageing, the changes are
designed to bring the scheme in
line with the expansion of urban
areas and centres driven by
population growth.
As a result of the update, from 01
July this year, pharmacies will be
reclassified under the Pharmacy
Accessibility Remoteness Index as
PhARIA 1 if there are eight or more
pharmacies in any location.
This change may result in some
pharmacies becoming ineligible for
the RPMA payments regardless of
their location, however pharmacies
located in PhARIA 1 may be eligible
to apply for the payment if they
meet certain criteria.
Pharmacies who are set to be
reshuffled into the ineligible
category for the RPMA will receive
a letter from the Department of
Health and Ageing detailing the
changes, in the coming weeks.
For more details on the changes
visit www.5cpa.com.au.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Mar 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 13 Mar 12
