National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2016

Page last updated: 19 December 2016

The National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2016 was introduced into the House of Representatives on 24 November 2016.  Debate was adjourned.

The Bill proposes amendments to the National Health Act 1953 to:

• enable the Minister, the Secretary of the Department of Health, and the Chief Executive Medicare to arrange for the use of computer programs to make decisions and take administrative actions on their behalf;
• enable approved pharmacists whose pharmacy premises have been affected by disaster or exceptional circumstances to supply pharmaceutical benefits at alternative premises in the same locality for a limited period and be paid for claims at the full rate; and
• ensure that pharmaceutical benefits entitlements for concessional beneficiaries and their dependants apply until midnight on the day of a person’s death.

The home page for the Bill on the Parliament of Australia website details current progress on the Bill and provides access to the text of the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum and the Minister’s Second Reading Speech.

Also available via the home page is a Track option which allows users to subscribe to updates and email notifications of progress on Bills.

Timing for consideration and debate on the Bill is decided by the Government.