Collection of under co-payment prescription data
From 1 April 2012, under co-payment prescription data is to be collected from approved suppliers
From 1 April 2012, changes to the National Health Act 1953 require prescription data for items priced below the patient co‑payment to be supplied to the Department of Human Services. Collection of this data will provide government with more information about medicine use in the community and be a valuable tool for:
- health policy planning
- monitoring risk management protocols
- collecting information on the adverse effects of medicines
- monitoring the quality use of medicines in the community.
Under co-payment prescription data will be collected through the Online Claiming for PBS and CTS diskette methods only. This will be achieved with minimal interruption through changes to pharmacy dispensing software. The Department of Human Services has worked closely with software vendors to make sure pharmacies are ready for the change.
There will be minimal changes to current pharmacy practices and no paperwork on under co‑payment data will need to be supplied to the Department of Human Services.
PBS system changes have been made to allow the collection of under co-payment prescription data from 1 April 2012. PBS systems will assess under co‑payment data, however, only a limited set of reject Reason Codes will be returned for pharmacies for follow up.
Last updated: 3 April, 2012