Information for Consumers

Leaving hospital and getting back home can be a difficult time for many patients. Pharmaceutical reforms are designed to make it safer and easier for all public hospital patients to get the medication they need, when they need it.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications will be available to patients on discharge from hospital and to outpatients. The reforms also allow public hospitals to access a group of cancer medications.

PBS reforms are being implemented gradually across the State. A full list of all hospitals participating in the reforms is available here.

Key elements of the reform:

• Access to the PBS for all public hospital patients on discharge and outpatients. Patients will be able to get up to a one-month supply of medication. Prescriptions for these medications can be dispensed in the hospital or at your local community pharmacy.
  
• Implementation of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council's guidelines on the continuum of pharmaceutical care. - More Details

Translations of the patient education brochure 'Pharmaceutical Reform in Victoria - Improving the Transition from Hospital to Home' into languages other than English are available here.

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Access to the PBS

Hospitals participating in the reforms will be able to prescribe PBS medications to all non-admitted patients and patients on discharge. Medications for inpatients will remain the responsibility of the hospital and are not subsidised in these reforms.

The Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS)

The PBS was established in 1952 with the aim of improving the health of all Australians by ensuring they have access to necessary and lifesaving medications at an affordable price.

Most PBS medicines cost the government more than the price you pay. Some cost hundreds of dollars, but because of the subsidy, they cost you much less. You may have noticed that each time you need to get medication from a chemist it costs $32.90 (or $5.30 if you have a concession card). The Commonwealth Government pays the rest of the actual price of the medicine, even if it costs hundreds of dollars.

The Old System

Previously, most patients discharged from public hospitals were given only a few days supply of medication. They would need to visit their local doctor within this time to obtain a PBS prescription for continued medications.

The New System

Under the new system, you can receive up to a month's supply of medication when you are discharged and when you attend a public hospital as an outpatient.

Am I eligible?

Yes a s long as you hold a Medicare card, and are a public patient on discharge from a hospital, or a public outpatient. When you receive medication on discharge or as an outpatient, you will need to show your Medicare card to prove you are eligible.

Access to the PBS is also available for citizens of those countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.

Improving Your Care

Taking too much or too little medicine and mixing up pills are common reasons for illness and readmittance into hospitals. By simplifying the process and having one scheme that applies to GPs' patients, private hospital patients and public hospital patients on discharge, patients should be able to remain on the same medication, which means that there should be less confusion and less chance of accidental over-consumption and readmittance to hospital.

As part of these reforms, hospitals will also be implementing strategies to ensure you leave hospital with a better understanding of the medicines you are taking. A list of your discharge medications will be sent to your usual doctor before your next visit and this means that your doctor will have up-to-date information about your hospital treatment and medications, improving your overall care.

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Choice and Convenience

The new system is not only safer but also more convenient for you. You won't need to visit your local doctor immediately, simply to get an additional prescription.

Before leaving hospital, you will be given a prescription that can be dispensed either at the hospital pharmacy or at your local pharmacy. So, if it is more convenient for you, and your hospital doctor thinks it appropriate, you can choose to get your medications after being discharged.

Will it cost more to get my prescription dispensed at the hospital?

No, getting your prescription at the hospital pharmacy will cost about the same as if you were to go to your local pharmacy.

General patients pay up to $32.90 toward the cost of each PBS medicine. The Commonwealth Government pays the rest. (DVA white card holders who are prescribed medicines not accepted by DVA are classed as general patients.)

Concession cardholders (issued by Centrelink or a DVA Repatriation Health card) pay $5.30 towards each PBS medicine.

Some medicines attract extra charges that are paid by the patient. Examples are Brand Price Premiums, Special Patient Contributions and Therapeutic Group Premiums.

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Will I need to bring cash with me to hospital to get my medication?

No, you may choose to pay by credit card or cheque (check with the hospital), or ask a family member to bring money when they come to collect you from hospital. In some cases, it may be possible for the hospital to give you an account for later payment.

In all cases, it will be important for you to have your Medicare card, concession card and Safety Net Card (if applicable) when going to hospital.

Can I get the prescription written by my GP filled at a public hospital?

No, hospitals are not able to dispense prescriptions written by GPs. They are able to dispense hospital PBS prescriptions written by any other participating hospital.

The PBS Safety Net

The PBS Safety Net will continue to protect you financially if you or your family need a lot of medication. Pharmacists can give you a copy of the form on which you record your medicines. Once you or your family reach the Safety Net threshold, you can apply for a Safety Net Card and your PBS medicines will be cheaper or free for the rest of the year.

A family can include:

• A spouse or de facto spouse
• Children under 16 in your care
• Full-time dependent students under 25

General Patients: When you and your family have a record of spending $1264.90 on PBS medicines (and non-PBS medicines from a hospital pharmacy) in a calendar year, you are entitled to further PBS medicines at $5.30 for the remainder of the calendar year.

Concession Card Holders: When you and your family has a record of spending $318.00 on PBS medicines (and non-PBS medicines from a hospital pharmacy) in a calendar year, you are entitled to further PBS medicines free for the remainder of that year.

Joint Safety Net: In public hospitals, the Joint Safety Net will still apply. This means that non-PBS items can be added to your Safety Net Card up to the value of $32.90 if you are a general patient, or $5.30 if you have a concession card. This scheme is only available if your medicines are dispensed in the hospital.

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APAC Guidelines - Improving your Quality of Care

An essential part of these reforms is the implementation of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council's (APAC) guidelines on the continuum of quality use of medicines between hospital and the community. The seven principles are:

• Development and coordination of a medication discharge plan for each patient;
• Taking an accurate medical history;
• Evaluation of current medication by hospital staff on admission;
• Development of a treatment and discharge plan relating to the probable medication developed in consultation with the patient and/or carer;
• Pre-discharge medication review;
• Provision of information to the primary health care provider and carers, and;
• Provision of patient information regarding admission, medication changes and arrangements for follow-up to the health care provider(s) nominated by the patient.

The implementation of these guidelines will help to ensure that your transition from the hospital to home is as smooth and worry-free as possible.

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