Pharmacy Daily | PBS price changes

The Pharmacy Guild understands that there is some confusion in the community regarding the 1 April Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) price changes. This confusion seems to largely stem from common misunderstandings or omissions of important details in reports in the mainstream media, despite the Guild’s efforts to explain the situation at every available opportunity. In some cases savings to tax payers were reported as savings to patients. The Guild appreciates that community pharmacists unfortunately bear the brunt of consumer anger when they mistakenly expect to pay less for their medicines after 01 April based on media reports. Pharmacists should use the site www.pbs.gov.au to indicate to consumers the price of their specific PBS medicine. Pharmacists who are looking for a useful resource to help explain the 1 April changes to confused customers are advised to access a consumer fact sheet produced by the Government and published on the official PBS website. Price Disclosure - Information for Consumers can found at www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/ pricing/eapd/price-disclosure-infofor- consumers and includes sections titled What is Price Disclosure? and How does Price Disclosure reduce the amount paid by patients?

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