Many pharmacies have concerns about the viability of opioid dependence therapies as a result of the recent changes at short notice, Jarrod McMaugh tells the AJP Podcast

Victorian branch manager for the Pharmaceutical Society, and its subject expert on harm reduction and opioid dependence therapy, Jarrod McMaugh speaks to AJP Podcast host Carlene McMaugh about in ODT aimed at reducing cost barriers for patients.

Jarrod takes us through the changes to opioid dependence therapy which came in on July 1, with methadone liquid, Suboxone films, Subutex tablets and the LAIB buprenorphine now Section 100 community access medications, and subsidised under the PBS.

He explains changes to the existing staged supply funding arrangements through the Pharmacy Programs Administrator.

“As a cost barrier, it’s significantly better for clients now,” he says.

But it means changes for pharmacy, and Jarrod explains how these will work, using examples.

“The timeline of when pharmacists, the pharmaceutical industry, wholesalers, software vendors and doctors… when they became aware that these changes were on their way was much less time than the government themselves were aware of it.

“They started implementing the changes significantly longer in time before we all found out.

“It’s one thing to say we need to remove this as a cost barrier, because that clearly is the most important outcome that has come from this…but we also have to be recognising the fact that pharmacies, and doctors, have to make this program work and that means we have to make sure that the new way of doing things will actually work.”

Jarrod outlines the discussions PSA had with the Commonwealth to ensure it would work – including what happens when a pharmacy pays for a quantity to be provided, but then dispensing it becomes no longer appropriate – and other challenges for pharmacies such as now being paid in arrears.

He also notes that as with Medicare, when there’s Government funding “you are looking at in real terms a reduction in the value of that payment over time”.

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