Pharmacies flail at change
Concerns have been raised over the upcoming 60-day medication dispensing scheme.
According to a survey conducted by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, one in three community pharmacies is poised to withdraw services from residential aged care homes if the new policy is implemented.
Set to be enacted on September 1st, the policy seeks to grant patients access to a two-month supply of medication per prescription, consequently halving the government's reimbursement to pharmacists each time they dispense subsidised medicines.
The Pharmacy Guild's survey allegedly covered over 500 community pharmacists across the nation, finding that 36 per cent of these pharmacies would cease providing services to residential aged care facilities if the 60-day dispensing scheme remains in place.
The Pharmacy Guild says aged care facilities might be compelled to impose charges on patients for the services currently provided by pharmacies, thereby imposing an added financial burden on the already vulnerable population.
At present, medication distribution to aged care residents is managed through dose administration aids or Webster packs, a service that is free of charge from community pharmacists.
According to industry and government data, this service incurs an approximate cost of $15 per resident per week.
However, the Pharmacy Guild has projected that following the September 1st change, residential aged care residents might face charges of at least $800 per year.
The guild wants the government to halt the 60-day dispensing rollout and hold consultations with community pharmacies and aged care providers.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, has vehemently dismissed the claim that aged care residents could be charged $800 for Webster packs.
“There was a big scare campaign that the Pharmacy Guild ran through The Australian newspaper that aged care residents might be charged $800 a year for their Webster pack,” he said.
“These are the packages of tablets that ensure that people get the right medicine, at the right dose, at the right time. Very common in aged care facilities.
“They ignored the fact that aged care facilities are funded to do that work: to do the packaging of medicines.
“And there's a specific legal prohibition against charging aged care residents for it.
“So, it was not only was self-serving, it was frankly false,” Butler said.
He says the new scheme will provide cost relief for patients with long-term conditions and free up medical practitioners' time for more essential care.
The government remains committed to the September 1st implementation date.