Pharmacy

Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement Reviews

The Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia

The Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement includes a commitment from the Australian Government and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia to undertake eleven reviews relating to complex issues impacting on community pharmacy.

The reviews and their current status are detailed in the table below.

Review	Status
These reviews have been completed:
The CEV Payment to pharmacy review (Clause 20)	Issues identified for consideration in the review of Concessional Entitlement Validation (CEV) Payments to pharmacy were considered in the development of the PBS Reform. Both the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Government were satisfied that introducing the PBS Online Pharmacy Incentive Payments resolved these issues. At the December 2006 meeting, the Agreement Consultative Committee (ACC), therefore, agreed that this review was completed. There is no report for this review.
Under co-payment study (Clause 39)	The collection and recording of PBS prescriptions priced below the patient co-payment study (Under co-payment study) was completed. The final report was presented to the ACC at their March 2009 meeting. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.1
PBS in RACF&PH review (Clause 38)	The review examining the existing supply arrangements of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines in the context of residential aged care facilities and private hospitals (PBS in RACF&PH review) was completed. The final report was submitted to the ACC at their December 2009 meeting. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.2
Drug Recalls review (Clause 35)	The review of the role of community pharmacy in drug recalls (Drug Recalls review) was completed. The final report was submitted to the ACC at their February 2010 meeting. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.3
Staged Supply review (Clause 40.1.b)	The review of the staged supply of PBS medicines when specified by the prescriber (Staged Supply review) was completed. The final report was submitted to the ACC at their February 2010 meeting. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.4
Section 100 review (Clauses 22 and 37)	The review examining the existing supply and remuneration arrangements for drugs supplied under five programs established under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 and how these supply arrangements impact on community pharmacies (Section 100 review) was completed. These five programs are: Aboriginal Health Services Remote Access Program; Highly Specialised Drugs Program; Opiate Dependence Treatment Program; Special Authority Program; and Continuing Medication Program. The final report was submitted to the ACC at their February 2010 meeting. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.5
The review of Pharmacy Location Rules (Clause 28)	The review of the Pharmacy Location Rules was finalised on 30 June 2010. PDF printable version of the final report is available from this website.6
These reviews are no longer required:
Continuous supply of PBS medicines review (Clauses 34)	In September 2009 the Department and the Pharmacy Guild agreed that the Continuous supply of PBS medicines review is no longer required.
PBS Price changes review (Clause 36)	In September 2009 the Department and the Pharmacy Guild agreed that the PBS Price changes review is no longer required.
Review of Indexation arrangements	In September 2009 the Department and the Pharmacy Guild agreed that the review of Indexation arrangements is no longer required.
Payment Times for PBS claims review (Clause 40.1.a)	In September 2009 the Department and the Pharmacy Guild agreed that the Payment Times for PBS claims review is no longer required.

1 - PDF printable version of the final report for the Under co-payment study (PDF 610 KB)

2 - PDF printable version of the final report for the PBS in RACF&PH review (PDF 795 KB)

3 - PDF printable version of the final report for the Drug Recalls review (PDF 633 KB)

4 - PDF printable version of the final report for the Staged Supply review (PDF 682 KB)

5 - PDF printable version of the final report for the Section 100 review (PDF 1373 KB)

6 - PDF printable version of the final report of the Pharmacy Location Rules (PDF 2425 KB)

PDF printable version of the final report for the Section 100 review Appendix A (PDF 692 KB)

PDF printable version of the final report for the Section 100 review Appendix B (PDF 2344 KB)

PDF printable version of the final report for the Section 100 review Appendix C (PDF 1496 KB)

PDF printable version of the final report for the Section 100 review Appendix D (PDF 258 KB)

These reports are also available from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia website (www.guild.org.au).

The public release of any of the review reports requires the agreement of both the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Minister.

For further information on the reviews contact the Review Team at 4cpareviews@health.gov.au Top of page