Health Boards
Here in Australia, we have the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which lists all of the medicines available to be dispensed to patients at a Government-subsidised price. The Schedule is part of the wider Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme managed by the Department of Health and administered by the Department of Human Services. This schedule is now online and updated on a monthly basis. The PBS has been in existence since 1948 and is governed by the National Health Act 1953.
When you receive your prescription you take it to your local pharmacy and once filled they will charge you the PBS subsidised price, $40.30 for general patients or $6.50 for a concession card holder. These costs are not covered by your health insurance or the government public health care fund Medicare and are paid directly to the pharmacy.
Once you have paid a certain amount and reach the "PBS safety net" which is $1550.70 for general patients $390 for concession card holders in a calendar year, you are then eligible for a further discount which brings the cost of each prescription down to $6.50 for general patients and free for concession card holders
Below is a screenshot of where Cosentyx is on the schedule.
![[Image: xKcnydi.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/xKcnydi.jpg)
When you receive your prescription you take it to your local pharmacy and once filled they will charge you the PBS subsidised price, $40.30 for general patients or $6.50 for a concession card holder. These costs are not covered by your health insurance or the government public health care fund Medicare and are paid directly to the pharmacy.
Once you have paid a certain amount and reach the "PBS safety net" which is $1550.70 for general patients $390 for concession card holders in a calendar year, you are then eligible for a further discount which brings the cost of each prescription down to $6.50 for general patients and free for concession card holders
Below is a screenshot of where Cosentyx is on the schedule.