Information on the Supply of Prescriptions.
In Australia the Health system classifies prescriptions under the following Groups.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS )
Private Prescriptions
1. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS ) (Attract Government Subsidies )
GEN( General ) Maximum cost to patient = $34.20
CON ( Consessional ) Maximum cost to patient = $5.60
2. Private Prescriptions
Attract no Government subsidies. A receipt will be issued for private fund claims.
Codes
The codes used on our web site are shown as
PRIVATE ( No Government Subsidy )
GEN ( Government pays the Gap and PRF stickers are attached to your
safety net card )
CON ( Pensioners Healthcare Veteran Affairs CN Cards )
SAFETY ( SN Cards )
REPAT ( Repatriation / Dept of Vet affairs )
Medicare Cards
You must send a copy of your card as proof
General Patients Have a medicare card.
Consessional Patients have a medicare card plus one of the following.
- Pensioner Concession Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Card
- Healthcare Card
- Repatriation Healthcare card for all conditions ( Gold )
- Repatriation Healthcare card for Specific conditions ( White)
- Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Card (Orange )
Safety Net Scheme
This scheme provides patients and their families who require large amounts of medicines financial relief when they reach a certain monetary threshold in a calendar year.
There are two safety net thresholds.
1. One for General Patients (CN) Threshold = $1317.20
2. One for Consessional Patients (SN)
( includes Healthcare card and Veteran Affairs ) Threshold = $336.00
SN cardholders are not charged for the rest of the calendar year
CN cardholders will pay a fee of $5.60 plus any premium if it applies until the threshold of $336.00 is reached, then there is no further charge for the calendar year.
Brand Premiums, therapeutic Group Premiums and Special Patient Contributions do not count towards these cards.
You must send a copy of your card as proof of your status
Repeats
We are able to hold your repeats for you. Just indicate in the correct box.
Generic Brands
Simply means the same drug made by a different manufacturer. Their efficacy is the same. Generics are usually cheaper and we must advise you when there is an alternative Generic.
Therapeutic Group Premiums
Some groups of drugs attract a premium.
Brand Premiums
Some drugs attract a Brand Premium