At Chemist Warehouse we strive to provide complete professional care .By providing us with medical details listed in our registration form, it will ensure that we are able to identify any potential drug, health or allergic interactions. This is compulsory for prescription orders.

Due to Australia’s present Health Scheme, different individuals may have different entitlements to what they pay for prescriptions. Each prescription item at Chemist Warehouse will show up to four different prices depending on the individual’s entitlements. Below is a description of the different prices.


PBS

All prescriptions are listed as Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prices. These prices are set by the government and under current legislation cannot be discounted. Prescription Record Form (PRF) stickers will be supplied with all PBS prescriptions and Safety Net Totals will be kept for patients. Where no price appears in the PBS field, the prescription is only available as a Private Prescription.


Private Prescriptions

Some prescriptions are not subsidised by the government, leaving the patient to fully pay for the item .In some cases a patient can save more money by electing not to have their prescription dispensed as a PBS prescription but as a private prescription. Although PRF stickers cannot be issued, many patients would not reach the safety net threshold anyway making them irrelevant. (See Safety Net for information) As many private prescriptions can be claimed back through Private Health Funds, relevant receipts will be provided.


Concession Cards
(Pensioners, Health Care & Veteran Affairs card holders, CN card holders)

These cardholders will pay $5.40 for most PBS prescriptions. Small government surcharges may occur in more expensive brands but can be avoided by selecting the generic equivalent when prompted. Where no price appears in benefit card field, private prices will apply.

Important – All entitlement card recipients must provide photocopies of cards with first order to prevent fraud


SN Card Holders

Patients eligible for SN cards will not be charged for PBS prescriptions (unless government surcharges apply). These patients will not be charged for postage or handling where SN prescriptions are included in their orders. When the item is not a PBS prescription, private prices will apply.

Important – All entitlement card recipients must provide photocopies of cards with first order to prevent fraud


Multiple Packs
Dispensing multiple packs or multiple repeats of prescription medication

Our pharmacists are eager to save you money but are ethically bound to ensure that the quantity of prescription medication you receive is both safe and reasonable. We must also comply with your doctors instructions on a prescription when it comes to repeats. Therefore the only times we can supply multiple repeats or an increased quantity is if the doctor prescribes that quantity, the prescription is endorsed by the doctor “Regulation 24” or you have obtained a signed authority form from your doctor allowing us to dispense more than one repeat at a time. You can download an authority form here to take to your doctor. NB a regulation 24 prescription can only be done on an original script and not a repeat and a signed authority form cannot apply to any government subsidised medicine. If you do not supply us with the appropriate authority form or if the doctor has not indicated that a larger quantity can be dispensed we will supply only one repeat and refund the difference. Please contact our pharmacists on 1300 367 283 for more information.

Repeats

Patients may elect to have repeats filed with Chemist Warehouse for future dispensing. This will allow for immediate processing and dispatch after order is placed and paid for.


Restrictions

Only prescriptions written by registered Australian Doctors can be dispensed. Refrigerated lines cannot be supplied. Overseas customers can purchase products except prescription lines. We reserve the right to refuse supply of any goods we feel may contravene our professional obligations.
Due to government regulations, faxes or emails of prescriptions cannot be dispensed.


Generics

Chemist Warehouse is interested in saving our customers money. Where equivalent less expensive brands exist, you will be asked if you would like us to substitute with these. These brands are in no way inferior in quality or strength, but are less expensive due to the companies being more competitive in pricing. In many cases, the same companies make both brands!


Prescription Codes

The following is a list of definitions to determine pricing of prescriptions. As different people are eligible for different pricing (i.e. through entitlement cards), we have devised a system to show the different prices. When you select a prescription item, you will be given four different prices to choose from depending on your individual circumstance.

Private or Our Price	private prescription. No government subsidy, with the customer to pay full cost of medication. Anyone with a prescription may pay this price.
PBS	price that is set by the government on the National Health Scheme. PRF stickers are provided and can be recorded on Safety Net Card. (A) – When this appears after a prescription an authority is required from the government for the PBS price.
Concession	entitlement cards only (i.e. pensioners, health care cards, veteran affairs cards, CN cards (safety net cards) A photocopy of the original card must be supplied with patients first order to validate entitlement.
Safety Net	SN cards only (i.e. safety net cards issued for entitlement card holders on reaching safety net limits set by the government). See Safety Net below.

Safety Net

If you and your family require large amounts of National Health Scheme prescriptions in any one-year, a Safety Net threshold exists to protect you financially. Once this threshold is reached you can apply for a Safety Net card enabling you to receive PBS prescriptions at cheaper or no cost. A family can include:

• A spouse or de facto spouse
• Children under 16 in your care; and
• Full-time dependent students under 25.

To be eligible for the Safety Net, you must keep a total of your PBS prescription expenditure. As individual pharmacies are not linked, records are only kept for prescriptions dispensed in each pharmacy. At Chemist Warehouse we will keep records of all PBS prescriptions dispensed by us for Safety Net purposes. If you use different pharmacies (including hospital pharmacies) you should keep your own prescription record form.

Safety Net Threshold
The levels for 2012 are:

General Patients: $1,363.30*- a safety net card will be issued allowing PBS prescriptions to be charged at $5.80* each for the rest of the calendar year

Concession Card Holders (pensions, health care card, veteran affairs etc) 60 prescriptions - a safety net card will be issued allowing PBS prescriptions to be free* for the rest of the calendar year.

*These figures are adjusted annually and do not include a surcharge for the more expensive alternative brands/medicines.


If you require more information about Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme:

Phone 1800 020 613
Email pbs.enq@hic.gov.au
Internet site http://www.hic.gov.au