Medicare and PBS in Australia

Answer 1

Through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the Australian Government makes a range of necessary prescription medicines available at affordable prices to all Australian residents and those overseas visitors eligible under Reciprocal Health Care Agreements.

Australian residents and visitors from countries with Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with Australia are entitled to subsidised medicines under the PBS. Some clients Centrelink and the Department of Veterans' Affairs are entitled to a further reduced concessional rate. PBS Safety Net provides financial assistance to individuals and families who use a lot of medicines in a calendar year.

The Department of Health and Ageing is responsible for program policy development and overall management of the PBS including administration of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule . Similarly the Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for the overall policy for the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS).

Under the PBS and RPBS Medicare Australia makes payments to pharmacists to subsidise medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. Medicare Australia also makes payments to pharmacists for other PBS related issues including the issue of Safety Net cards, payments in support of rural or remote pharmacies and for the supply of medicines to Aboriginal Medical Services and for the Emergency Drug (Doctor's Bag) system.

Authority prescription approvals are administered by Medicare Australia for prescriptions for which the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee limits supply in specified circumstances. We also administer the approval of pharmacists to supply medicines under the PBS, the approval of health care providers in remote areas where there are no adequate pharmacy services and the approval of hospitals to supply PBS medicines to their patients. (SourceThe Australian Government Medicare Australia)