Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
The official online source for information on your PBS.
This web site contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. The PBS is part of Australia's broader National Medicines Policy (NMP).
PBS SCHEDULE SEARCH
PBS News Updates
PBS Website Update - 1 May 2012
1 May 2012
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 May 2012 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, amended and deleted items page. Detailed information regarding additions and alterations of restrictions is now available in the fact sheet, New Listings and Changes 1 May 2012.
The following updates have also been made to the PBS Website:
- Recommendations made by the PBAC - March 2012
- Summary of 1 August 2012 Price Reductions for Third Transitional Cycle
- Formulary Allocations - 1 May 2012
Review of Anticoagulation Therapies in Atrial Fibrillation
4 April 2012
Submissions received as part of the Review of Anticoagulation Therapies in Atrial Fibrillation are now available. Further information about the Review is available at: Review of Anticoagulation Therapies in Atrial Fibrillation.
PBS Website Update - 1 April 2012
1 April 2012
The Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits was updated on 1 April 2012 and the Summary of Changes can be found on the New, amended and deleted items page. Detailed information regarding additions and alterations of restrictions is now available in the fact sheet, New Listings and Changes 1 April 2012.
The following updates have also been made to the PBS Website:
- Price Disclosure - Information for Consumers
- Revised Arrangements for the Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy Drugs - Full implementation from 1 April 2012
- Drugs subject to Expanded and Accelerated Price Disclosure - 1 April 2012
- Formulary Allocations - 1 April 2012
- 12.5% and 16% Price Reductions - 1 April 2012
- Errata to Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits - 1 April 2012 (PDF 114KB)
- Erratum to Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy Supplement - 1 April 2012 (PDF 79KB)
Revised Arrangements for the Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy Drugs - Full implementation from 1 April 2012
29 March 2012
A factsheet on the full implementation from 1 April 2012: key issues for public hospitals - prescribers and pharmacists is now available.
Amendment to the pricing of RPBS items: DRESSING—FOAM with SILICONE—HEAVY EXUDATE
22 March 2012
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) wishes to advise that the April 2012 Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (RPBS) contains incorrect prices for three Allevyn Gentle dressings supplied by Smith & Nephew. DVA is currently working with Smith & Nephew to amend the prices.
Please contact the Veterans' Affairs Pharmaceutical Advisory Centre (VAPAC) on 1800 552 580 if you wish to dispense the following three Allevyn Gentle dressings:
- Item 4196W 'Dressing - foam with silicone - heavy exudate, 10cm x 10cm, 10, Allevyn Gentle - 66800248'
- Item 4207K 'Dressing - foam with silicone - heavy exudate, 7.5cm x 7.5cm, 10, Allevyn Gentle - 66800269'
- Item 4230P 'Dressing - foam with silicone - heavy exudate, 10cm x 10cm, 10, Allevyn Gentle - 66800270'
The RPBS will be amended shortly to show correct prices.
Report to Parliament: Pharmaceutical Industry Discussion Group (PIDG)
13 March 2012
Report to Parliament on the meeting of the Pharmaceutical Industry Discussion Group (PIDG) to identify and examine potential unintended consequences of the 2010-11 Budget Measure Further Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Pricing Reform.
The National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Act 2010 (the Act) gave effect to the 2010-11 Budget Measure ‘Further Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Pricing Reform’, including Expanded and Accelerated Price Disclosure (EAPD), from 1 December 2010.
To secure passage of the amendments to the Act, the Government agreed to a number of requests made by the Senate. One of these requests was the creation of a stakeholder group, the Pharmaceutical Industry Discussion Group (PIDG), to discuss the potential and actual impacts of Further PBS Pricing Reform, with a report to be tabled in the Parliament detailing the outcomes of each meeting.
The Report of the first meeting was tabled in Parliament on 13 March 2012 and is available on the Department of Health and
Ageing website: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/PIDG-report
Changes to brand premiums for 1 April 2012 - Price disclosure reductions for Main, First Transitional and Second Transitional Cycles
1 March 2012
Expanded and accelerated price disclosure reductions will come into effect on 1 April 2012 for the Main, First Transitional and Second Transitional Cycles. Any premium priced brands which are subject to one of these price reductions will also have that reduction flow onto the brand premium. A full list of effected brand premiums and other general information can now be found on the Expanded and Accelerated Price Disclosure page.
Information on the availability of pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene
1 March 2012
The Therapeutics Goods Authority (TGA) announced in December 2011 that the registration of all pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene will be cancelled. As a consequence the Department of Veterans' Affairs has withdrawn RPBS item 4081T dextropropoxyphene napsylate (Doloxene(r)) from 1 March 2012. The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule will be updated to reflect this from 1 April 2012. The Department of Veterans' Affairs has contacted current prescribers to advise of listed alternatives. There are no pain-killers containing dextropropoxyphene listed on the PBS.
Price increases for 1 April 2012
21 February 2012
As announced by the Minister for Health on 21 February 2012, the Government has agreed to increase the price of 17 medicines currently listed on the PBS, as recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority at its December 2011 meeting.
A full list of the medicines granted a price increase from 1 April 2012 is available here.
Summary of 1 April 2012 Price Reductions for Main, First Transitional and Second Transitional Cycles
19 December 2011
Determinations for Price Disclosure price reductions, with a scheduled Reduction Day of 1 April 2012, for cycles: Main, first Transitional and second Transitional have been published to the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments website on Friday 16 December 2011. More information can be found on the Expanded and Accelerated Price Disclosure page.