Page 2702 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 August 2019
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In relation to the answer given to question on notice No 2131 about the funds of $88,756 (excl GST) remaining in the bulk billing general practice health fund, has a decision been made as to how these remaining funds will be used; if not (a) why not and (b) when will a decision be made; if yes, (i) how are the funds to be used and (ii) if not for the original intended purpose, why.
Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) A decision has yet to be made on how the $88,756 (excluding GST) in remaining funding from the Bulk Billing General Practices Grant Fund will be utilised.
(a) The ACT Health Directorate is working through options to finalise the allocation of the funds. This comprehensive assessment will ensure the most appropriate use of this funding.
(b) The 2017–18 ACT Budget announced $1.05 million over three years for the ‘Better care when you need it—support for bulk billing GPs’ initiative. The funding (2018-19 to 2020-2021) is available to be spent within that time period, once a decision on the most appropriate use for the funding has been made.
(i) and (ii)— Please see response to question (1).
Government—pharmaceutical reform
(Question No 2513)
Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 17 May 2019:
(1) In relation to the answer given to question on notice No 2083 about arrangements for dispensing drugs from hospital pharmacies, has a decision been made as to whether the ACT will sign the Public Hospital Pharmaceutical Reform Agreement (PHPRA); if not (a) why and (b) when will it be made; if yes, (i) when was the decision made, (ii) what was the decision, (iii) was the decision for unqualified agreement, (iv) if it was not, to what extent was it qualified, (v) why was it qualified and (vi) when did the Territory sign the agreement (or when will it sign it).
(2) What arrangements does the Territory have with the Commonwealth in relation to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
(3) To what extent are the Territory’s arrangements different from those in other jurisdictions.
(4) If the Territory has no such arrangements in place, why.
Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) There is no PHPRA currently being offered to the ACT Government by the Australian Government. The Australian Government has raised the possibility of entering into a multilateral agreement with states and territories to better achieve national consistency in access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines. The ACT would be open to further discussions on a new offer when it is presented by the Commonwealth.
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