PBS
PBS drops signature requirement
Government confirms removal of patient signature requirement to acknowledge receipt of a pharmaceutical benefit聽 Amendments to the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017 announced today (3 April) remove the requirement …
Red tape returns to pharmacy
Pens and paper are set to return to dispensary counters as the exemption for patients to sign for prescriptions expires聽 Requirements for patients to provide written acknowledgement for the receipt …
鈥楪iving three tablets is nothing鈥�
It鈥檚 the most expensive jurisdiction in which to see a GP 鈥� yet hospital patients are discharged with as little as a couple of days鈥� worth of medication Olivia Collenette, …
Government鈥檚 listening to patients on ODT: Butler
Minister says government is committed to ensuring affordable access to ODT聽 Transitional arrangements for patients undergoing opioid dependence treatment (ODT) with private providers will remain in place until 30 June …
Permanent continued dispensing a must: PSA
Australia cannot wait for natural disasters to strike before implementing measures to protect patient safety, PSA leaders say聽 Temporary measures enabling pharmacists to provide PBS medicines to patients impacted by …
No fears over antiviral supply: Butler
Health Minister says he is “not aware” of issues with supply of antivirals, despite surging case numbers, while deferring to expert advice on calls for widened PBS eligibility聽 Speaking at …
PBS clarifies biosimilar warning codes
Warning codes not always a block on biosimilar substitution, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) says聽 Pharmacists receiving PBS warning reason codes 162 and 163 when substituting a biosimilar for a reference …
Dispensing must be 鈥榳ell-funded鈥� in 8CPA
Plans to increase community pharmacy services will not be sustainable without appropriately funding dispensing, pharmacist says聽 Ensuring dispensaries are well-funded will be critical to the success of the Eighth Community …
Evidence shows benefits of 60-day dispensing: Butler
Patients are 鈥渞eaping the benefits鈥� of the government鈥檚 60-day dispensing policy, Health Minister claims聽 Despite disagreements between pharmacists and the government, double dispensing is delivering savings for patients, while 鈥渕aintaining …
Petition calls for ODT rethink
PBS-funded opioid dependence treatment (ODT) program leaves patients worse off, petition claims聽 The House of Representatives is being asked to rethink changes to the delivery ODT, and to fund private …
Butler urged to act on medicinal cannabis
One Nation calls for 鈥渟ensible downregulation鈥� of medicinal cannabis to improve access聽 Barriers to making medicinal cannabis products available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) need to be removed, Senator …
60-day warnings coming to fruition: CAPS
Government should have heeded pharmacists鈥� warnings on the adverse effects of double dispensing聽 Warnings that 60-day dispensing would lead to pharmacies reducing opening hours and cutting staff are becoming a …