- Read the BDN's previous coverage of chemotherapy co-payments here.
MEMBER for Bega Andrew Constance responded to recent concerns raised in the media by Sue-Ellen Yates and the NSW Cancer Council surrounding co-payments for out-patients receiving chemotherapy treatments in NSW.
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"The information provided by Ms Yates was a deep concern to me and I have taken those concerns to my colleague and Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner seeking a brief on the claims surrounding co-payments and the PBS [Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme],” he said.
“I am advised by NSW Health that since 2013 NSW patients no longer pay $150-$400 drug costs per cycle.
“I am further advised that since 2013, NSW outpatients pay a one-off PBS co-payment for each original prescription dispensed for chemotherapy medicines for injection/infusion, and no co-payment for repeat prescriptions.
“The co-payment cost for an original prescription is $6 for concessional or $29.50 for general patients.”
Mr Constance said he had been advised most chemotherapy patients in NSW are treated as public hospital outpatients or in private clinics located on hospital grounds.
“These patients are subject to an Australian Government co-payment for chemotherapy drugs, unless they have reached the [PBS] safety net,” he said.
“The Australian Government set co-payment is charged to public out-patients in other jurisdictions, not just NSW or the ACT.”
NSW chemotherapy patients also have access to the PBS safety net, whereby the maximum annual pharmaceutical co-payments before no co-payments are paid by a concessional patient is $360 or $1,421.20 for general patients.
