Read their article here:
http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/news/latest-news/guild-to-assume-responsibility-for-hmr-payments-as
Each year, pharmacy owners pay heaps of $$$ to The Guild who is the representative body for community pharmacies. But each year, they continue to disappoint. I don't see why we need to continue paying them if their stupid proposals do not benefit us.
The changes Feb 2014:
MedsCheck and Diabetes Medscheck has been capped at 10 per pharmacy per month. So that means for small pharmacy with one pharmacist a script volume of less than 100 per day VS a large pharmacy with 7 pharmacists per day with a script volume of 600 ---- do they really think 10 MedsCheck per month is reasonable? You develop this service to help the greater good of the community, but after one year, you take it away from us and impose a stupid cap so you can keep some of the money? So if we think a patient would benefit from a Medscheck, guess we'll have to say no sorry and turn them away coz we have reached our quota this month.
The Guild is sly. Pretending to represent us, but then taking over Medscheck and imposing a cap. Seems to be could be some secret dealing under the table.
Why do pharmacists have to suffer when it comes to cost-cutting Medicare expenses?
Why don't they focus on doctors who prescribe inappropriately and charge inappropriately from Medicare? Let me tell you how Medicare can save some money easily just by auditing doctors:
- Abbocillin VK 150mg/5ml syrup, Ventolin Syrup, Celestone Cream, Aristocort Cream, Adrenaline injection all come in packs of 2 under PBS. Most doctors prescribe maximum PBS quantity even though the patient only needs to use it for a few days. Technically, one bottle is more than enough, but doctors are too lazy to change the quantity. What happens to the second unused bottle of syrup or box of cream? Goes into the bin unused when it expires after sitting in the cupboard at home for a long time.
- Doctors charging Medicare even though they just print off a repeat script for their regular customers. I know doctors who refuse to write repeats just so the customer can go back and see them again for a new script so another Medicare swipe is required. I know the doctor does nothing because no doctor requests a blood test every month when the patient is only taking cholesterol tablets and the dose has been the same for the past year.
- Micro consultations that only take 5min as patient's condition is not bad. Eg. sore throat, patient comes out with script for Nurofen. Seriously, that's another $60 of Medicare wasted.
- Doctors prescribing items on PBS when the patient doesn't meet the criteria. Eg. Normacol Plus is for disabled quadriplegics but I see normal grown people being prescribed that. or Klacid Syrup prescribed for children as part of a triple therapy with Amoxil and Losec when its only indicated for Pertussis.
- Doctors writing PBS scripts for their regular patients who intend to send it overseas to their sick relative. (illegal btw)
Medicare of Australia - my advice to you is audit those doctors in our country if Medicare requires cost-cutting. Do not focus everything on pharmacies and makes constant changes such as price disclosure, price dropping, clinical interventions value reduction, Medscheck caps, audit us ..... coz these will drive us out of business, unemployment rates with increase. Trust me, doctors require auditing as there has been a lot of illegal activity going on. and I'm surprised nothing has been done about it. Pretty unfair if you ask me. Why are we always targeted? Changes in the past few years have affected pharmacies.
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