Changes to wholesale mark-up arrangements for PBS Section 85 medicines dispensed in public and private hospitals to come into effect on 1 October 2019

Page last updated: 2 July 2019

The National Health (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by private hospitals) Amendment (Budget Measure) Determination 2019 and the National Health (Commonwealth Price – Pharmaceutical Benefits Supplied by Public Hospitals) Amendment (Budget Measure) Determination 2019 were registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 1 July 2019. These instruments amend the National Health (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by private hospitals) Determination 2010 and the National Health (Commonwealth Price—Pharmaceutical Benefits Supplied By Public Hospitals) Determination 2017, respectively. The purpose of the amending instruments is to align the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) wholesale mark-up arrangements, as applied to ready-prepared pharmaceutical benefits for PBS Section 85 medicines dispensed in public and private hospitals, with the wholesale mark-up arrangements in the community pharmacy setting. These changes were announced in the 2019-20 Budget and will ensure parity of wholesale mark‑up rates across the range of PBS dispensing environments. Implementation of the new arrangements, which was originally scheduled for 1 July 2019, will now occur on 1 October 2019.