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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/51494
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Increased patient co-payments and changes in PBS-subsidised prescription medicines dispensed in Western Australia |
Author: | Hynd, A. Roughead, E. Preen, D. Glover, J. Bulsara, M. Semmens, J. |
Citation: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2009; 33(3):246-252 |
Publisher: | Public Health Assoc Australia Inc |
Issue Date: | 2009 |
ISSN: | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Anna Hynd, Elizabeth E. Roughead, David B. Preen, John Glover, Max Bulsara and James Semmens |
Abstract: | <h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether a 24% increase in patient co-payments in January 2005 and two related co-payment changes for medicines subsidised under the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) were associated with changes in dispensings in Western Australia (WA).<h4>Method</h4>We analysed aggregate monthly prescription counts and defined daily dose per 1,000 population per day (DDD/1,000/day) for atypical antipsychotics, combination asthma medicines, HmgCoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). Trends pre and post the co-payment increase in January 2005 were compared.<h4>Results</h4>In three of the four categories examined, prescription counts were significantly lower following the increase in co-payment thresholds. Compared with dispensings prior to the co-payment increase, prescriptions fell by 8% for combination asthma medicines (p<0.001), 9% for PPIs (p<0.001) and 5% for statins (p<0.001). Following the rise in co-payments, DDD/1,000/day decreased for all four categories. Decreases in dispensings to concessional beneficiaries were between 4% and 5% larger than for general beneficiary patients.<h4>Conclusions and implications</h4>The reduction in the both prescription counts and DDD/1,000/day observed for combination asthma medicines, PPIs and statins, which all remained above co-payment thresholds, suggests the increase in PBS co-payments has affected utilisation of these subsidised medicines. The results indicate that increases in patient contributions particularly impact on concessional patients' ability to afford prescription medicines. |
Keywords: | Humans Pharmaceutical Preparations Cost Sharing Financing, Government Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services National Health Programs Western Australia Databases as Topic |
Description: | The definitive version may be found at www.wiley.com |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2009.00383.x |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-6405.2009.00383.x |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Public Health publications |
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