2021 PBS Discount Details
The PBS Safety Net is reached when a patient or family (spouse and/or dependent children) spend the minimum dollar amount in a calendar year. The threshold in 2021 is $316.80 for Concession and Repat cardholders and $1497.20 for General patients (non-concession cardholders).
Concession Patients (in 2021):
- Patient co-payment of $6.60 per script
- 2021 Safety Net Threshold at $6.60 per script, $316.80/$6.60 = 48 scripts within a calendar year
- Patient co-payment with $1 discount = $5.60 per script
- 2021 Safety Net Threshold at $5.60 per script (discount applied), $316.80/$5.60 = 56.6 scripts (rounding to 57 scripts)
- All concessional prices have been set to $5.60 on the pharmacy direct website, for customers who would opt to have their item dispensed as the co-payment price, please note on order.
Therefore, patients who expect to reach the safety net may benefit from paying $6.60 per concessional script to reach the safety net earlier and receive more free scripts.
General Patients (in 2021):
- Patient co-payment of $41.30 per script
- Each PBS script may contribute up to $41.30 onto a Safety Net prescription record form – the recorded value for each PBS medicine must not exceed the “maximum recorded value” as stated on the PBS schedule. Patient co-payment with $1 discount = $40.30
- 2021 Safety Net Threshold: $1,497.20
- All general prices have been set to a maximum of $40.30 on the pharmacy direct website, for customers who would opt to have their item dispensed as the co-payment price, please note on order.
- Discount does not apply to any script under the PBS co-payment where a medicine cost less than $41.30 or $40.30 (with $1 discount)
Therefore, if you normally pay for 3 scripts per month at the maximum co-payment of $41.30 per script, the discount will reduce the contribution to your Safety Net prescription record form by $3 per month.