pharmaceutical benefits scheme

Question 1

PBS

Answer 1

provides life-saving and essential medicines to people at a subsidised rate – people must make a ‘co-payment’ towards the medication

there are over 5000 medications listed under the scheme

Question 2

PBS safety net

Answer 2

individuals and families are further protected from large expenses from PBS-listed medicines

once they or their immediate family has spent $1497.20 during a calendar year on PBS-listed medicines, the patient only pays a concessional co payment rate of $6.60 rather than the normal $41.30