Commonwealth price (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by approved pharmacists) Determination 2020
Part 2Ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits
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(1) This Determination is the Commonwealth price (Pharmaceutical benefits supplied by approved pharmacists) Determination 2020.
(2) This Instrument may also be cited as PB 66 of 2020.
4 Purpose
The purpose of this Determination is to determine the manner in which the Commonwealth price for pharmaceutical benefits is to be worked out, for payments to approved pharmacists for the supply of pharmaceutical benefits, for paragraph 98B(1)(a) of the Act.
5 Application
This Determination does not apply to the supply of a pharmaceutical benefit by an approved pharmacist to a medical practitioner under section 93 of the National Health Act 1953.
6 Definitions
(1) In this Determination:
Act means the National Health Act 1953.
agreed purchase quantity, in relation to an ingredient of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit, means the quantity of the ingredient that is agreed upon between the Secretary of the Department and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia as the quantity for which the basic wholesale price is to be ascertained.
approved ex‑manufacturer price has the same meaning as in subsection 84(1) of the Act.
basic wholesale price has the same meaning as in subsection 98B(3) of the Act.
dangerous drug means:
(a) a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in Schedule 3 to the National Health (Commonwealth Price and Conditions for Commonwealth Payments for Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Determination 2019; or
(b) a pharmaceutical benefit that, under the law of a State or Territory, is classified as a dangerous drug.
dangerous drug fee means an amount of $5.50.
determined quantity of a listed brand of a pharmaceutical item has the same meaning as in subsection 84(1) of the Act.
exceptional prescription means a prescription for an extemporaneously‑ prepared pharmaceutical benefit that is not a standard formula preparation and for which the price of the ingredients, calculated in accordance with sections 19 to 21, is not less than twice the amount calculated under section 30, excluding the container price and extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee.
extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee means an amount of $10.92.
extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit means a pharmaceutical benefit that is not a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit.
maximum quantity of a brand of a pharmaceutical item, or a pharmaceutical benefit that has a pharmaceutical item, means a quantity or number of units of the pharmaceutical item determined under paragraph 85A(2)(a) of the Act in relation to that brand of pharmaceutical item.
pack quantity has the same meaning as in subsection 84(1) of the Act.
Note: The Minister may determine one or more pack quantities for a brand of a pharmaceutical item under subsection 84AK(2) of the Act. The quantities determined are the quantities in manufacturer’s PBS packs.
pharmaceutical item has the meaning given by section 84AB of the Act.
price to pharmacists means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the particular quantity, plus the wholesale mark‑up worked out under section 11.
proportional ex‑manufacturer price has the same meaning as in subsection 84(1) of the Act.
ready‑prepared dispensing fee means an amount of $8.88.
ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit means a brand of a pharmaceutical item for which there is a determination under subsection 85(6) of the Act.
Regulations means the National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Regulations 2017.
standard formula preparation means an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in Schedule 5 to the National Health (Commonwealth Price and Conditions for Commonwealth Payments for Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Determination 2019.
7 Rounding up and rounding down
If the calculation of a price under this Determination includes a fraction of a cent, the final amount calculated is to then be rounded up or down to the nearest cent, with an amount of 0.5 of a cent or more being rounded up to the next cent.
8 Dangerous drug fee
If a pharmaceutical benefit is a dangerous drug, the Commonwealth must pay, in addition to any other amounts under this Determination, a dangerous drug fee where indicated in this Determination.
9 Repeat supply
(1) If, under subsection 88(6) or 88(6A) of the Act and regulation 49 of the Regulations, a medical practitioner, authorised midwife, or authorised nurse practitioner, instead of directing a repeated supply of a pharmaceutical benefit, directs the supply of a quantity or number of units of the benefit on 1 occasion, not exceeding the total quantity or number of units that could be prescribed if the medical practitioner, authorised midwife, or authorised nurse practitioner directed a repeated supply, the Commonwealth price for that supply includes:
(a) only 1 dispensing fee; and
(b) the price, if any, of only 1 container.; and
(c) if a dangerous drug fee applies, only one such fee.
(2) For this section, the appropriate price, if any, for a container is to be worked out under section 13.
(1) The Commonwealth price for the supply of a quantity of a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is:
(a) if the quantity of the benefit ordered and supplied is equal to a multiple of a pack quantity of the benefit—the sum of:
(i) for each pack quantity:
(A) the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity; and
(B) the wholesale mark‑up, worked out under section 11; and
(C) the administration, handling and infrastructure fee, worked out under section 12; and
(ii) a ready‑prepared dispensing fee; and
(iii) if a dangerous drug fee applies, the dangerous drug fee; or
(b) if the quantity of the benefit ordered and supplied is less than a pack quantity of the benefit—the sum of:
(i) the amount worked out under section 14; and
(ii) a ready‑prepared dispensing fee; and
(iii) if a dangerous drug fee applies, the dangerous drug fee; and
(iii) an amount for the supply of a container, worked out under section 13; or
(c) if the quantity of the benefit ordered and supplied is more than a multiple of a pack quantity of the benefit—the sum of:
(i) for each pack quantity:
(A) the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity; and
(B) the wholesale mark‑up, worked out under section 11; and
(C) the administration, handling and infrastructure fee, worked out under section 12; and
(ii) for the remainder of the quantity that is less than a pack quantity—the amount worked out under section 14; and
(iii) a ready‑prepared dispensing fee; and
(iv) if a dangerous drug applies, the dangerous drug fee.
(2) However, for a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit that comprises the admixture of ready‑prepared ingredients and is specified in Schedule 1 to the National Health (Commonwealth Price and Conditions for Commonwealth Payments for Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Determination 2019:
(a) the ready‑prepared dispensing fee does not apply; and
(b) an extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee must be paid by the Commonwealth; and
(c) no amount for the supply of the container is payable; and
(d) if a dangerous drug fee applies, the dangerous drug fee.
(1) For sub‑subparagraphs 10(1)(a)(i)(B) and 10(1)(c)(i)(B), and Step 1 of section 14, the wholesale mark‑up for a pack quantity of a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is the amount added to the approved ex‑manufacturer price (AEMP) or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price (PEMP) for the pack quantity, to calculate the price to pharmacists for that pack quantity, as set out in this section.
Step 1—Identify the approved ex‑manufacturer price (AEMP) or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price (PEMP) for the pack quantity
(2) Identify the AEMP or the PEMP for the pack quantity for which a mark‑up is to be calculated under this section.
Step 2—Identify the appropriate wholesale mark‑up formula
(3) List any maximum quantity or determined quantity of each listed brand of that pharmaceutical item (other than any maximum quantity that relates to a supply of any of those brands in section 100 only circumstances).
(4) From that list, identify the quantity (the relevant quantity) of the brand of the pharmaceutical item, which is:
(a) the quantity that is the highest whole number multiple of the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item from:
(i) any maximum quantity on the list; or
(ii) if subparagraph (a)(i) does not apply—any determined quantity on the list; or
(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply—the quantity that is the closest to the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item (or, if two quantities are equally close, the higher of those quantities) from:
(i) any maximum quantity on the list; or
(ii) if subparagraph (b)(i) does not apply—any determined quantity on the list.
(5) Work out proportionately the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item.
Step 3—Apply the appropriate formula to work out the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity
(6) If:
(a) the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is less than, or equal to, $5.50; and
(b) the relevant quantity and the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item are the same;
then the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is the amount worked out as follows:
PTP = AEMP or PEMP + $0.41
where:
PTP means the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity.
AEMP or PEMP means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
(7) If:
(a) the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is less than, or equal to, $5.50; and
(b) the relevant quantity and the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item are not the same;
then the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is the amount worked out as follows:
PTP = AEMP or PEMP + ($0.41 x (PQ/RQ))
where:
PTP means the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity.
AEMP or PEMP means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
PQ means the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item.
RQ means the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item.
(8) If the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is more than $5.50, but less than or equal to $720.00; then the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is the amount worked out as follows:
PTP = AEMP or PEMP x 1.0752
where:
PTP means the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity.
AEMP or PEMP means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
(9) If:
(a) the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is more than $720.00; and
(b) the relevant quantity and the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item are the same;
then the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is the amount worked out as follows:
PTP = AEMP or PEMP + $54.14
where:
PTP means the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity.
AEMP or PEMP means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
(10) If:
(a) the ex‑manufacturer price for the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is more than $720.00; and
(b) the relevant quantity and the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item are not the same;
then the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item is the amount worked out as follows:
PTP = AEMP or PEMP + ($54.14 x (PQ/RQ))
where:
PTP means the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity.
AEMP or PEMP means the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
PQ means the pack quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item.
RQ means the relevant quantity of the brand of the pharmaceutical item.
12 Ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits—administration, handling and infrastructure fee
(1) For sub‑subparagraphs 10(1)(a)(i)(C) and 10(1)(c)(i)(C), and Step 1 of section 14, the administration, handling and infrastructure fee for a pack quantity of a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is:
(a) if the pack quantity to which the administration, handling and infrastructure fee is to be applied under this section is equal to a maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical benefit, the administration, handling and infrastructure fee is the amount mentioned in the table below for the price to pharmacists for that quantity.
AHI Tier
Price to pharmacists for maximum quantity
Administration, handling and infrastructure fee for maximum quantity
1
< $100
$4.91
2
≥ $100, ≤ $2 000
Tier 1 AHI Fee + 5% of the amount by which the price to pharmacists for maximum quantity exceeds $100
3
> $2 000
$95.00 + Tier 1 AHI Fee
(b) if the pack quantity for which an administration, handling and infrastructure fee is to be calculated under this section is not equal to a maximum quantity of the pharmaceutical benefit, the administration, handling and infrastructure fee is calculated as follows:
(i) calculate the price to pharmacists for the maximum quantity by applying the following formula:
PTP for PQ x (MQ/PQ)
where:
PTP for PQ is the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity (calculated in section 11);
PQ is the pack quantity; and
MQ is the maximum quantity;
(ii) if the administration, handling and infrastructure fee that would apply to the maximum quantity is shown in the table in paragraph (a) as a monetary amount—the administration, handling and infrastructure fee for the pack quantity is that monetary amount reduced proportionately for the relative quantities; and
(iii) if the administration, handling and infrastructure fee that would apply to the maximum quantity is shown in the table in paragraph (a) as a monetary amount and a percentage of the price to pharmacists—the monetary amount of the administration, handling and infrastructure fee for the pack quantity will be adjusted proportionately for the relative quantity and the percentage will be 5% of the amount by which the price to pharmacists for the pack quantity exceeds $100.
(1) The price for a container for a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is the sum of:
(a) the wholesale cost worked out under subsection (2); and
(b) the mark‑up worked out under subsection (4).
(2) The wholesale cost for a container will be based on the average of wholesale costs for a particular container, in a quantity of 100, as agreed by the Minister and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for the supply of the container, by a wholesale drug distributor.
(3) The wholesale cost must be agreed by 15 June in a year and takes effect on 1 August in that year.
(4) For paragraph (1)(b), the mark‑up is 10% of the amount agreed under subsection (2).
(5) For a mark‑up worked out under subsection (4), if the calculation of a percentage of the wholesale cost includes a fraction of a cent, the mark‑up is to be rounded up or down to the nearest cent, with an amount of 0.5 of a cent or more being rounded up to the next cent.
(6) In this section:
container means:
(a) for a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit that is injectable—a vial with a capacity of 150 ml; or
(b) for any other ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—a vial with a capacity of 25 ml.
14 Price for broken quantities
If a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is ordered and supplied in a quantity that is less than a pack quantity (the broken quantity), the amount mentioned in subparagraph 10(1)(b)(i) or (1)(c)(ii) is to be worked out using the following method statement.
Method statement
Step 1 Add the mark‑up worked out under section 11 and the administrative, handling and infrastructure fee worked out under section 12 to the approved ex‑manufacturer price or the proportional ex‑manufacturer price for the pack quantity.
Step 2 Divide the quantity or number of units in the broken quantity by the quantity or number of units in the pack quantity and express as a percentage.
Step 3 For a percentage up to and including an amount in column 1 of the following table, select the percentage mentioned in column 2 of the previous item in the following table.
Column 1Up to and including: (%)
Column 2Select amount: (%)
5
10
10
18
15
26
20
32
25
38
30
44
35
50
40
54
45
58
50
62
55
66
60
70
65
74
70
78
75
82
80
86
85
90
90
94
95
98
100
100
Step 4 Multiply the amount worked out under step 3 by the amount worked out under step 1.
15 Ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits—limit on Commonwealth price
If the Commonwealth price worked out for the supply of a broken quantity of a ready‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit exceeds the Commonwealth price for the pack quantity, the Commonwealth price for the pack quantity is the Commonwealth price for the broken quantity.
16 Pharmaceutical benefits that are to be supplied as complete packs
If a prescription directs the supply of a quantity of a pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in Schedule 4 to the National Health (Commonwealth Price and Conditions for Commonwealth Payments for Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Determination 2019 (about benefits to be supplied as complete packs), the Commonwealth price is the price worked out as if a complete pack was supplied.
Part 3—Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits
17 Definition
In this Part:
wastage means the combined loss that arises from:
(a) transferring drugs and chemicals from the package in which they are delivered to the approved pharmacist to the dispensing package delivered to the patient; and
(b) deterioration; and
(c) obsolescence.
Subject to section 30, the Commonwealth price for the supply of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit, including a standard formula preparation, is the sum of the following amounts:
(a) the amount worked out under sections 19 to 21 in relation to the quantity supplied of each of the ingredients; and
(b) the amount worked out for the supply of the container under section 25; and
(c) the extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee.
19 Ingredient amount
For paragraph 18 (a), the amount for an ingredient of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit, if the quantity of the ingredient is equal to the agreed purchase quantity, is the sum of:
(a) the basic wholesale price of the ingredient; and
(b) the administration, handling and infrastructure fee worked out under section 20; and
(c) an amount for any wastage, in accordance with Appendix A.
20 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefits—administration, handling and infrastructure fee
For paragraph 19 (b), the administration, handling and infrastructure fee, calculated by reference to the basic wholesale price for an agreed purchase quantity of the ingredient, is the amount mentioned in the table for that price.
AHI Tier
Price to pharmacists for maximum quantity
Administration, handling and infrastructure fee
1
< $100
$4.91
2
≥ $100, ≤ $2 000
Tier 1 AHI Fee + 5% of the amount by which the price to pharmacists for maximum quantity exceeds $100
3
> $2 000
$95.00 + Tier 1 AHI Fee
21 Ingredient amount
(1) For section 18, if the quantity of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit that is to be dispensed is less than the agreed purchase quantity amount in relation to the ingredient, the amount payable for the ingredient is to be worked out using the following method statement.
Method statement
Step 1 Work out the basic pricing unit to be used for the quantity to be dispensed, using the table of basic pricing units in Appendix B.
Step 2 Deduct from the amount worked out under section 18 the quantity factor mentioned in Appendix C for the basic pricing unit.
Step 3 Subject to subsection (2), multiply that amount by the quantity to be dispensed, divided by the basic pricing unit.
(2) For step 3 of the method statement, the price for a quantity in a range mentioned in the following table is the price for the quantity for step 3 mentioned of the table.
Item
Column 1
Column 2
Quantity range
Quantity for step 3
1
> 700 mg, ≤ 1 g
1 g
2
> 700 µl, ≤1 ml
1 ml
3
> 7 g, ≤ 10 g
10 g
4
> 7 ml, ≤ 10 ml
10 ml
5
> 80 g, ≤ 90 g
80 g
6
> 80 ml, ≤ 90 ml
80 ml
(3) For item 1, 3 or 5 of the table in subsection (2), if the quantity of the ingredient is not a multiple of 50 mg, the amount is to be calculated as if it were the next highest multiple of 50 mg.
(4) For item 2, 4 or 6 of the table in subsection (2), if the quantity of the ingredient is not a multiple of 50 µg, the amount is to be calculated as if it were the next highest multiple of 50 µg.
22 Quantity greater than the agreed purchase quantity
For section 18, if the quantity of an ingredient of an extemporaneously‑ prepared pharmaceutical benefit is greater than the agreed purchase quantity, the amount payable in relation to the ingredient is to be worked out as follows:
(a) if the ingredient is described in Schedule 2 to the National Health (Commonwealth Price and Conditions for Commonwealth Payments for Supply of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Determination 2019 (about unstable or sterile ingredients)—multiply the price of the agreed purchase quantity by the number of whole packs of the agreed purchase quantity required to dispense the quantity of the ingredient; or
(b) in any other case—divide the quantity dispensed by the quantity contained in the agreed purchase quantity and multiply the result of that calculation by the basic wholesale price of the agreed purchase quantity.
23 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit comprising vehicle specified in prescription under particular name, etc
(1) If an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit comprises a vehicle that is specified in the prescription under a particular name and an additional specified ingredient or ingredients, the Commonwealth price is to be calculated under this section.
(2) If a vehicle is a single liquid ingredient and 1 or more other ingredients are added:
(a) for calculating the Commonwealth price, any displacement of the vehicle by solids is to be disregarded; and
(b) the Commonwealth price for the pharmaceutical benefit as a whole is to be calculated under section 18.
(3) If a vehicle is compounded from 2 or more ingredients and 1 or more other ingredients are added:
(a) any displacement of the vehicle by solids is to be disregarded for pricing purposes; and
(b) the amounts calculated, under sections 21, 22 and 23, for each of the ingredients is the sum of:
(i) the price of each ingredient of the vehicle; and
(ii) the price of each ingredient that is added to the vehicle.
(4) In this section:
vehicle means a substance that has little or no medicinal action and is used as a medium for an active ingredient.
(1) The basic wholesale price for a drug used in the preparation of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is the average of the wholesale cost of the drug, in a purchase quantity:
(a) agreed by the Minister and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia; and
(b) available from wholesale drug distributors.
(2) For subsection (1), the purchase quantity must be agreed on or before 15 June in a year and takes effect on 1 August in that year.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), if the calculation under subsection (1) includes a fraction of a cent, the basic wholesale price is to be rounded up or down to the nearest cent, with an amount of 0.5 of a cent or more being rounded up to the next cent.
(4) The amount calculated in relation to an ingredient must not be less than
1 cent.
(1) The price for a container for an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is the sum of:
(a) the wholesale cost worked out under subsection (2); and
(b) the mark‑up worked out under subsection (4).
(2) The wholesale cost for a container will be based on the average of wholesale costs for containers of that type, in the quantity agreed by the Minister and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia for the supply of the container, by a wholesale drug distributor.
(3) For subsection (2), the wholesale cost must be agreed on or before 15 June in a year and takes effect on 1 August in that year.
(4) For paragraph (1)(b), the mark‑up is 10% of the amount agreed under subsection (2).
(5) For a mark‑up worked out under subsection (4), if the calculation of a percentage of the wholesale cost includes a fraction of a cent, the mark‑up is to be rounded up or down to the nearest cent, with an amount of 0.5 of a cent or more being rounded up to the next cent.
(6) If a wholesale drug distributor will not supply containers of a particular size or type in the purchase quantity agreed upon by the Minister and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the price of the purchase quantity is to be worked out by:
(a) multiplying:
(i) the price of the smallest quantity larger than the agreed purchase quantity, in which the distributor will supply containers of that size and type; and
(ii) the agreed purchase quantity; and
(b) dividing the result worked out under paragraph (a) by the quantity that in which the distributor will supply.
26 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—container price for bulk powders
For bulk powders, the price for the container is the price for a screw cap jar that is nominally rated to hold at least double the quantity supplied.
27 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—orders in excess of largest size container
If a prescription directs the supply of a quantity of an extemporaneously‑ prepared pharmaceutical benefit that exceeds the capacity of the largest size of container that is manufactured for use with a benefit of that type, the price for the container is to be calculated as if the pharmaceutical benefit had been supplied in more than 1 container.
28 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—limit on Commonwealth price
If the Commonwealth price worked out for the supply of a quantity of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit exceeds the Commonwealth price for a greater quantity of the benefit, the Commonwealth price is the price for the greater quantity of the benefit.
29 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—calculation limit for ingredients
If the Commonwealth price worked out for the supply of an ingredient of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit exceeds the Commonwealth price for a greater quantity of the ingredient the Commonwealth price is the price for the greater quantity of the ingredient.
30 Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit—non‑standard formula preparations
(1) Subject to subsection (4), if an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit is not a standard formula preparation:
(a) the benefit is to be classified, for determining the Commonwealth price, under the type of pharmaceutical benefit mentioned in Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Minister’s determination under subsection 85A(2) of the Act;
(b) the Commonwealth price for the benefit is to be worked out under subsection (2) or (3).
(2) The price is to be worked out, on the calculation day, using the following method statement.
Method statement
Step 1 Work out, for each benefit, the total quantity dispensed by approved pharmacists during the calculation period.
Step 2 Work out, for each benefit, the total cost (not including a container fee or the extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee) of the benefit dispensed by approved pharmacists during the calculation period.
Step 3 Divide the cost worked out under step 2 by the quantity worked out under step 1, to work out the unit cost for the benefit.
Step 4 Multiply the unit cost by the quantity to be dispensed.
Step 5 Add to the amount worked out under step 4:
(a) the container price, worked out under section 25; and
(b) the extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee.
(3) If, on the calculation day, no prescriptions for a standard formula preparation for a benefit have been dispensed by approved pharmacists in the calculation period, the Commonwealth price is to be worked out using the following method statement.
Method statement
Step 1 Add together the price (not including a container fee or the extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee) of the standard formula preparations available for the benefit.
Step 2 Divide the amount worked out under step 1 by the number of standard formula preparations available for the benefit.
Step 3 Divide the amount worked out under step 2 by the maximum quantity, to work out the unit price for the benefit.
Step 4 Multiply the unit price by the quantity to be dispensed.
Step 5 Add to the amount worked out under step 4:
(a) the container price, worked out under section 25; and
(b) the extemporaneously‑prepared dispensing fee.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to:
(a) exceptional prescriptions; or
(b) the supply of the pharmaceutical benefit under subsection 31 (1).
(5) In this section:
calculation day means the 16th day of each calendar month or, if the 16th day is not a business day, the next business day.
calculation period means the period commencing 4 weeks before the calculation day and ending on the calculation day.
maximum quantity, for a standard formula preparation, means the maximum quantity mentioned for the type of pharmaceutical benefit in Part 3 of Schedule 2 to the Minister’s determination under 85A(2) of the Act.
31 Calculation of Commonwealth price under section 18
Extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit without standard formula preparation
(1) The Commonwealth price for the supply by an approved pharmacist of an extemporaneously‑prepared pharmaceutical benefit for which there is not a standard formula preparation may be worked out by the pharmacist under section 18 if the supply is made while an election by the pharmacist to work out that price in that way is in force under subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
(2) The pharmacist may make the election in writing given to the Chief Executive Medicare.
Note: The pharmacist may revoke the election in the same way: see subsection 33(3) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (as it applies because of section 13 of the Legislation Act 2003).
(3) The election is in force for the period specified in the election (which must be at least 3 months), unless it is revoked before the end of the period.
Standard formula preparation with additive
(4) Subject to subsection (5), the Commonwealth price for the supply, by an approved pharmacist, of a standard formula preparation plus an additive must be worked out under section 30.
(5) If an approved pharmacist indicates that the pharmaceutical benefit is to be priced as if the prescription had specified only the standard formula preparation, the amount payable will be the Commonwealth price for the standard formula preparation, worked out under section 18.
32 Exceptional prescriptions
Despite section 30, an approved pharmacist who has not made an election under section 31 may calculate the Commonwealth price for an exceptional prescription under section 18.