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Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (No. R43/2013) [F2013L02009]
Portfolio:
Veterans' Affairs
Authorising
legislation: Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986
Last day to
disallow: 19 March 2014 (Senate)
Purpose
2.44 The Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (No. R43/2013) sets out
the circumstances in which the Repatriation Commission may arrange for
pharmaceutical benefits to be provided to veterans or their dependents at a
concessional rate. The instrument replaces the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme (1995 No. 12).
Background
2.45 The committee reported on the instrument in its Second Report of the
44th Parliament.
Committee view on compatibility
Right to health
Impact of recalculation of
pharmaceutical benefit on access to medicines
2.46 The committee sought clarification from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs
in relation to the objective of the changes to the method of calculating the
pharmaceutical allowance and the impact the changes will have on those
affected.
Minister's response
It is correct that the refinements to the Pharmaceutical
Allowance Calculator could reduce the amount of reimbursement a relevant member
received compared to the person's situation before the refinements. However, as
explained above[1],
this situation is not a case of reducing a payment as a cost-saving measure,
rather the refinements were made to ensure a legislative scheme works properly
as it is intended.
The refinements result in all members receiving the correct
payment as intended when this measure was implemented. Indeed it would be
inequitable if some members eligible for a pharmaceutical reimbursement had
their pharmaceutical co-payments reduced by their pharmaceutical allowance(s)
but others did not.[2]
Committee response
2.47 The committee thanks the Minister for Veterans' Affairs for his
response and has concluded its examination of this instrument.
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