www.statusin.org

Organization : Department of Human Services
Facility : Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme PBS
Country : Australia
Website : https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme

Human Services PBS

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) gives timely, reliable and affordable access to medicines for Australians.

Related : Department of Human Service Disability Support Pension Scheme Australia : www.statusin.org/25904.html

Who Can Get it?

The PBS provides cheaper medicines to :
** Australian residents
** visitors from other countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) gives access to PBS items and more for :
** eligible veterans
** war widows and widowers, and
** dependents

How to Claim PBS Medicines

To get cheaper medicine when filling a prescription, show your Medicare card and :
** concession card
** health care card
** Department of Veterans’ Affairs card, or
** PBS Safety Net card.

If you don’t have your cards, you may have to pay more. If this happens, ask your pharmacist for an official PBS refund receipt. This isn’t a regular sales receipt.

To get a refund :
** complete a Patient claim for refund Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) form
** submit your form at a service centre or post to the address on the form

You may not get a full refund for more expensive brands of medicine. The PBS Safety Net can help with the cost of many prescriptions. Don’t get more PBS medicine than you need. You should only get medicine when you need it.

How to Collect for Someone else

You can collect PBS medicines for someone else if you provide their :
** prescription
** Medicare card details
** concession card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card details, and
** PBS Safety Net card details.

You must also sign the script form at the pharmacy to prove you collected the medicine for them. If you can’t provide these details, the pharmacy may charge the full amount for the medicine.

What are Generic Brands?

Generic brands :
** are cheaper
** have the same active ingredients as existing medicines, and
** meet Australian standards.
You can ask your pharmacist for a generic brand of medicine.

When you Take/Send PBS Medicine Overseas

There are laws and restrictions on the amount and types of PBS medicine you can take or send overseas. You can only take or send PBS medicine out of Australia that you or the person you’re traveling with need to take. It’s illegal to take or send PBS medicines out of Australia for someone else.

Taking Medicine with you

When it’s Legal

If you plan to take a PBS medicine with you on your trip, make sure it’s legal to :
** have in the country you’re going to
** take out of Australia

Before you Go

** Check with the country’s embassy, high commission or consulate if the medicine is legal there.
** Get a letter from your doctor to take with you on the trip. It should say
** what the medicine is
** that it’s for your personal use
** how much of it you use

If you can’t do this, print and fill in the Medicine Export Declaration form. Take it with you when you go through customs.
** Leave the medicine in the same packaging it was bought in.
** Make sure you don’t take more than the legal amount overseas. Check with your doctor.

How to Dispose of Medicine

If you have medicine you no longer need, you should dispose of it. The easiest way to do this is to take it to your community pharmacy. They’ll dispose of your medicine safely for free.