1800 278 462
From 1 September 2024, a number of important asthma medicines will be added to the 60-day Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions list. This is the first time asthma medicines have been included and may help the majority of Australia’s nearly 2.8 million people with asthma to save time and money and to better manage their condition.
Sixty-day prescribing was launched 1 September 2023 for a wide range of stable, ongoing health conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. People with eligible conditions have been able to receive 60 days’ medicine on a 30-day prescription, essentially cutting their medicine bill in half.
People with asthma will now have the option to receive double the amount of medicine for the cost of one prescription. It may also mean less frequent visits to the pharmacy and fewer GP appointments per year for repeat scripts.
Anthony Flynn, Director of Health Knowledge and Translation says, “Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the developed world. Asthma Australia welcomes this initiative by the Australian Government. It has the potential to assist people with asthma to save time, money and better manage their condition.”
The majority of the asthma medicines on the list are preventer inhalers, which work to minimise asthma symptoms, prevent decline in lung function and reduce the risk of exacerbations and asthma-related death.
Most preventers also attract the PBS maximum co-payment of $31.60, which many Australians cannot easily afford, especially in a cost-of-living crisis. Asthma Australia hopes that cheaper preventer inhalers will enable more people with asthma to move towards better asthma management.
Mr. Flynn says, “Of the 2.8 million people with asthma in Australia, regular inhaled preventer therapy is recommended for the majority. 60-day prescribing has the potential to help millions of Australians with asthma to control their condition.”
How does it work?
In Australia, medicines are subsidised by the PBS to make them more affordable, but most people still face a co-payment.
People with concession cards pay a maximum co-payment of $7.70 per prescription. Almost everyone else with a Medicare card pays a maximum co-payment of up to $31.60.
A concession card holder with a 60-day PBS prescription will now pay a $7.70 co-payment for 60 days’ asthma medicine, which is double the amount of medicine. Others with a 60-day PBS prescription will now pay $31.60 co-payment for 60 days’ asthma medicine.
A person prescribed one 60-day PBS asthma medicine for $31.60 would pay $189.60 annually instead of $379.20.
A family of four who are each prescribed one 60-day PBS asthma medicine would pay $758.40 annually instead of $1,516.80, a significant saving.
In addition to saving on medicines, a person with well-controlled, stable asthma might need to visit their doctor less frequently to pick up their regular asthma prescription. This might save them time and money.
60-day prescriptions will be available to people whose asthma is ongoing and has been assessed as stable by their prescriber.
What types of asthma medicines are included in 60-day prescribing?
More than half of people with asthma don’t experience good asthma control (Reddel, 2023). For many people with asthma, out-of-pocket costs are a major contributor to poor adherence to prescribed treatment. Half of all adults and a third of children with asthma miss out on essential treatment due to these costs.
Australian guidelines recommend that most adults and adolescents with asthma should take a preventer inhaler. These work to minimise symptoms, prevent decline in lung function and reduce the risk of exacerbations and asthma-related death.
Many people instead rely on reliever inhalers, which don’t prevent future flare-ups. Relievers are typically used as rescue medicines to provide quick relief of asthma symptoms rather than providing long-term asthma control.
Most of the medicines on the 60-day prescription list for asthma are preventers. 60-day prescribing may therefore assist individuals with asthma and their families to better access important medicines that have the potential to lead to positive health outcomes, including improved asthma symptom control, fewer flare-ups, and improved quality of life.
Where can people find out more information?
Asthma Australia has a free information and support service where people can speak with an Asthma Educator about 60-day prescribing as well as what stable asthma may mean for them. It operates 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Call 1800 278 462.
ENDS
For more information:
Contact Trinity Frederick, 0413 99 22 82