AHA conducted a review of the supply and remuneration arrangements relating to programs delivered through community pharmacies under Section 100 (Special Arrangements) of the National Health Act 1953, including how these arrangements impact on community pharmacy.

Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 helps improve access to essential medicines by providing for certain drugs to be available as pharmaceutical benefits, in addition to those available under normal PBS arrangements or where alternative arrangements are considered more appropriate.

The review included the following Section 100 programs:

• Highly Specialised Drugs (HSD) Program
• Aboriginal Health Services Remote Access (AHSRA) Program
• Opiate Dependence Treatment (ODT) Program
• Special Authority (SA) Program
• Continuing Medication (CM) Program.

The review was funded by the Australian Government and formed part of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, implemented by the Agreement Consultative Committee (ACC). The ACC is made up of eight members; four each from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Department.

The review aimed to:

• Examine the existing supply and remuneration arrangements for drugs listed under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953 programs and provided through community pharmacies
• Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the arrangements as they related to community pharmacy
• Identify the impact of the supply and remuneration arrangements on community pharmacy
• Develop options to address any identified impact of the current supply and remuneration arrangements on community pharmacy.

The review involved extensive consultation and involvement of stakeholders to identify the key issues for each program and to formulate options to address these issues.