PBS Legislative Amendments

Page last updated: 26 March 2018

The Department is finalising guidance material on the amendments to the National Health Act 1953 relating to statutory price reductions that were signed into law on 21 February 2018. This material will be published on the PBS website and a news item will be sent to all subscribers to PBS News and Updates when this occurs.

The “catch-up” anniversary price reductions due to occur on 1 June 2018, will be one set of new arrangements subject to Ministerial Discretion. The process for applying for discretion will be published as soon as possible. Due to the data processing timeframes involved (approximately six weeks before date of effect ie. middle of April for a 1 June listing), we are expecting that there will be a short turn around on the application process for both Industry and the Department. We appreciate your patience and willingness to work with us during this time.  

If you would like further information prior to publication of this material on the PBS website, an explanation of the new provisions can be found in the Explanatory Statement to the amendments.