Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Collection of Under Co-payment Data
Page last updated: 17 December 2019
From 1 April 2012, approved suppliers of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines
are required to provide the Australian Government, with data on PBS prescriptions
that are priced below the general co-payment level (under co-payment). Details of
the supporting legislation enacted on 23 November 2010 can be found at National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ) Act 2010.
Prior to April 2012, PBS prescription data was only collected for prescriptions that
attracted a Government subsidy. The collection of under co-payment prescription information
enhances the Department of Health PBS data set and provides a valuable additional
tool for health policy planning, monitoring risk management protocols, pharmacovigilance
and monitoring the quality use of medicines in the community.
The information being collected is exactly the same as that previously collected for
subsidised prescriptions and from 1 January 2016 PBS medicine pricing information
is being collected.
The collection applies only to claims submitted online or through the Claims Transmission
System. Therefore, paper claims are not collected and paper prescriptions do not need
to be forwarded to Services Australia. Dispensing computer software was updated by
software vendors to automatically send the under co-payment information through to
Services Australia in its normal claiming process, and Services Australia includes
the data in the regular information files they forward to the Department of Health.
There has been no change to previous dispensing or claiming processes and approved
suppliers do not have any additional workload apart from validation of essential information
such as prescription dates, pharmacy identification, patient eligibility and medication
details.
For more information, you can email PBS Stats at the Department of Health, call Services Australia on 13 22 90 (call charges may
apply), or visit the Services Australia website.
Report on the Collection of PBS / RPBS Under Co-payment Prescription Data
