Further opp to PBS co-pay
July 30, 2014
THE proposed increase to the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(PBS) co-payment (PD 14 May) has
met with further opposition from
health care and pharmacy groups
who say consumers may not fill
prescriptions when faced with
increased costs.
In a submission to the Senate
Standing Committee on
Community Affairs about the
National Health Amendment
(Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2014,
the Pharmaceutical Society of
Australia (PSA) submission said the
organisation was concerned that
patient co-payments, even before
the proposed increase, had reached
such a high level that there was a
danger of patients foregoing some
of their necessary medications due
to cost, citing two studies.
The organisation said it was
also concerned the Department
of Health had not modelled the
impact of the increase on patient
behaviour.
Extending the utilisation of
pharmacists’ skills could achieve
a fiscally sustainable and quality
health care system in the future,
the PSA said.
The Consumers Health Forum
(CHF) also opposed increased
co-payments, saying there would
be a disproportionate impact
on marginalised populations,
noting the Council of Australian
Governments Reform Council
report which found in 2012-13,
8.5% of people delayed or did not
fill a prescription due to cost, which
increased to 12.4% in the most
disadvantaged areas (PD 13 Jun).
The Health Services Union
submission also opposed the
increased PBS co-payment and the
increase in the safety net threshold,
recommending the Senate
reject the bill, also citing data
demonstrating that cost barriers
prevented Australians from filling
their prescriptions.
It said the bill had serious risks
in terms of Australians’ health and
health expenditure sustainability,
in that patients who did not follow
medication regimens were likely to
require higher-cost interventions.
To read the submissions, CLICK
HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 30 Jul 14To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 30 Jul 14
