Community Pharmacy Agreement Review of Aged Care medication supply

As part of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement the Australian Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia have agreed to undertake a review of the existing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) supply arrangements in the context of residential aged care facilities (RACF)and private hospitals.

Healthcare Management Advisors (HMA) has been engaged to undertake the Review, including conducting extensive consultations with key organisations, dissemination of a discussion paper and facilitation of workshops open to stakeholders, healthcare providers and consumers in each state and territory.

HMA is now seeking submissions/responses to the discussion paper from organisations and individuals with an interest in the supply of PBS medicines in RACF and/or private hospitals.

This Discussion Paper has been prepared to facilitate broader public consultation with a view to ensuring that all issues related to the supply arrangements of PBS medicines in RACFs and private hospitals have been identified and, particularly, to provide a forum for exploring other approaches/options.

Submissions must be received by 9:00am (AEST) on Wednesday 21 January 2009 by email to PBSreview@hma.com.au

The discussion paper is at http://www.guild.org.au/content.asp?id=2039