About the PBS

Safety Net

This section of the website contains information on Safety Net arrangements in community pharmacies and public hospitals.

From 1 January 2008, PBS patient safety nets were adjusted. These increases took into account movements in the CPI for 2007. In addition, the general and concessional safety net thresholds are being increased by amounts equal to two patient co-payments in each year for four years (commencing in 2006), as announced in the 2005-06 Budget. This adds to the threshold the equivalent cost of eight co-payments by 2009. The safety net thresholds have changed from $274.40 to $290.00 (for concession card holders) and from $1059.00 to $1141.80 (for all other patients).

The same general or concessional safety net threshold is applied to a family unit regardless of whether the unit consists of an individual, a couple or a family with dependent children.

After reaching the safety net threshold, general patients pay for further PBS prescriptions at the concessional co-payment rate and concession card holders are dispensed PBS prescriptions at no further charge for the remainder of that calendar year. In order to access the safety net arrangements, you need to maintain records of your PBS expenditure on a Prescription Record Form. These are available from all pharmacies.

For further information about drugs listed on the PBS and safety net arrangements, ask your pharmacist, contact the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 613 (Freecall) or collect a brochure at your nearest Medicare office.

Public Hospitals and the Safety Net

The Safety Net threshold may be reached using scripts filled at both community pharmacies and out-patient pharmacies at public hospitals – this is called the joint Safety Net.

From 1 January 2008, the contribution rate for general patients as outpatients at public hospitals throughout Australia is $25.00. The exception is Queensland and hospitals participating in the pharmaceutical reforms where patients pay the safety net value of an item when it is listed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule, of and a maximum $31.30 for items not listed in the schedule.

In public hospitals from 1 January 2008, concessional patients pay a maximum of $5.00 – except in South Australia where Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card holders are treated as general patients, and in New South Wales, where DVA White Card holders are treated as general patients.

These amounts are adjusted on 1 January each year.