2024 PBS Discount Details

The PBS Safety Net is reached when a patient or family (spouse and/or dependent children) spend the minimum dollar amount in a calendar year. The threshold in 2024 is $277.20 for Concession and Repat cardholders and $1,647.90 for General patients (non-concession cardholders).

Concession Patients (in 2024):

Patient co-payment of $7.70 per script
2024 Safety Net Threshold at $7.70 per script, $277.20/$7.70 = 36 scripts within a calendar year
Patient co-payment with $1 discount = $6.70 per script
2024 Safety Net Threshold at $6.70 per script (discount applied), $277.20/$6.70 = 41.37 scripts (rounding to 42 scripts)
All concessional prices have been set to $6.70 on the Chempro Online website, for customers who would opt to have their item dispensed as the co-payment price, please note on order.

Therefore, patients who expect to reach the safety net may benefit from paying $7.70 per concessional script to reach the safety net earlier and receive more free scripts.

General Patients (in 2024):

Patient co-payment of $31.60 per script
Each PBS script may contribute up to $31.60 onto a Safety Net prescription record form - the recorded value for each PBS medicine must not exceed the “maximum recorded value” as stated on the PBS schedule.
Patient co-payment with $1 discount = $30.60
2024 Safety Net Threshold: $1,647.90
All general prices have been set to a maximum of $30.60 on the Chempro Online website, for customers who would opt to have their item dispensed as the co-payment price, please note on order.
Discount does not apply to any script under the PBS co-payment where a medicine cost less than $31.60 or $30.60 (with $1 discount)

Therefore, if you normally pay for 3 scripts per month at the maximum co-payment of $30.60 per script, the discount will reduce the contribution to your Safety Net prescription record form by $3 per month.

For more information on the PBS click here