THE list of medicines in stage one of the 60-DD policy is now confirmed, with the legislative instrument to enable the policy change registered on the Federal Register of Legislation, ahead of being tabled in the Senate next month, the Federal Dept of Health has confirmed.
This first stage includes 92 medicines for a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, gout, heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension, osteoporosis, and ulcerative colitis, as seen HERE.
The Federal Dept of Health shared that the change means patients living with a chronic, stable condition will be able to buy two months' worth of these medicines for the price of a single prescription, rather than the current 30-day supply.
The decision to write a script with two months' worth of medicine will be made by a patient's GP or other prescriber, based on their professional clinical judgement.
The option to prescribe a one-month supply remains.
People with a Medicare card buying one of these medicines could save up to $180 every year, while Concession card holders may save $43.80 a year for each eligible medicine.
The full list of medicines recommended for longer dispensing intervals will include more than 300 common medicines and will be implemented in three stages over 12 months, starting 01 Sep.
The Dept confirmed that "every single dollar saved by the Govt from lower dispensing fees will go back into pharmacy services".
"More than $1.2 billion will be re-invested into expanded services such as vaccinations, medication safety, and support for opioid-dependent patients, and increased financial support to pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia."
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said, "community pharmacists will be financially supported to deliver more advanced clinical services, so they can play an even more central role in the healthcare of Australians".
"The Govt continues to work with all parts of the pharmacy sector on the implementation of this policy.
"Australian pharmacies already do much more than just dispense medicine and the Govt is supporting our trusted pharmacists to play an even bigger role in the healthcare of Australians."
The 60-DD policy, when fully implemented, should see at least six million Australians halve their medicine costs and need fewer GP visits to get their medicines.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 26 Jun 23
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