New communications campaign to promote the reduced PBS co-payment

Pharma News: A new communications campaign to promote the reduced PBS co-payment is being launched by the government with ‘Most PBS medicines now cost no more than $30 on the campaign materials.

Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care said “This isn’t just good for their hip pockets…this is good for their health. Every year, almost a million Australians defer or go without a script their doctor has said is important for their health, because they can’t afford it.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed that more than three quarters of a million people put off buying medication because of the cost in the 2021-22 financial year. This equated to 5.6% of consumers, the first increase in the last ten years.

The reduced general co-payment for medicines listed on the PBS, from $42.50 to $30, is only benefitting about 8% (18 million) of PBS-subsidised scripts, despite costing taxpayers $786 million over four years.

On the other hand, the government’s decision to raise the cost of the concessional PBS co-payment from $6.80 to $7.30 is the largest price increase since 2005 and will make an estimated 150 million scripts more expensive for pensioners, veterans and other healthcare card holders.

The government said the reduced general PBS co-payment reduction was aimed at younger Australians between 15 – 24 years of age, females, people living in poorer and disadvantaged areas and those living with a long-term health condition. These consumers were identified by the ABS to be more likely to delay or not fill their scripts.

The safety net for both concessional and general PBS script holders has also been increased to about $20 and $120 respectively – the highest since 2009. This could negate savings for general patients with multiple medications.

Increasing the general PBS safety net from $1457.10 in July 2022 to $1,563.50 on January 1, 2023 offsets any of the publicised benefits, and restores its title as the highest general safety net threshold since its introduction nearly 40 years ago.

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