At ePharmacy 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 ePharmacy 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 actually 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. 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.
Repeats
Patients may elect to have repeats filed with ePharmacy 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 and Dangerous Drugs (s8) cannot be supplied. Pharmacist Only Medication (s3)
requires a prescription to 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
ePharmacy 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.
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private prescription. No government subsidy, with the customer to pay full cost of medication. Anyone with a prescription may pay this price. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 ePharmacy 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 2010 are:
General Patients: $1,281.30*- a safety net card will be issued allowing PBS prescriptions to be charged at $5.40* 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
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