Support for rural pharmacies made easier
Pharmacists in rural and remote areas will find it easier to obtain government support payments when new simplified rules come into effect today.
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26 April 2005
ABB37/05
Pharmacists in rural and remote areas will find it easier to obtain government support payments when new simplified rules come into effect today.
The revised business rules apply to the Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance, which is claimed by about 750 pharmacies and will total $12.4 million in 2004-05.
The allowance was introduced in 2001 to provide a financial incentive to maintain pharmacy services in rural areas. It is paid monthly and provides the greatest assistance to the most remote pharmacies with the smallest number of PBS prescriptions filled.
In 2003-04 the government paid rural pharmacists between $3,000 and $40,000 per pharmacy under the allowance.
‘Red tape’ for payment of the incentive will be reduced, with pharmacists no longer required to produce statutory declarations to gain the allowance. A simple ‘one size fits all’ form will replace the statutory declaration.
The form can now be downloaded from this link on the HIC web site.
The government also now offers more generous back-payment provisions for pharmacists who are late in submitting documentation for the allowance. These new provisions will help busy rural pharmacists to retain access to the allowance.
Pharmacists are an important part of the health services chain in Australia. The government is committed to ensuring access to quality pharmacy services, as well as medical services for Australians wherever they live.
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.
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