A number of important asthma medicines have now been added to the 60-day Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions list.

It is the first time asthma medicines have been included and may help the majority of Australia’s nearly 2.8 million people with asthma to save time and money and to better manage their condition.

The initiative was launched 1 September last year for a wide range of stable, ongoing health conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

People with asthma will now have the option to receive double the amount of medicine for the cost of one prescription and may also mean less frequent visits to the pharmacy and fewer GP appointments per year for repeat scripts.

In Australia, the PBS helps reduce the cost of many essential medicines, making them more affordable. However, most people still need to pay a co-payment when they fill their prescriptions:

• Concession card holders are currently paying a maximum co-payment of $7.70 per prescription. 
• Those without a concession card have a maximum co-payment of $31.60.

Most asthma preventers are already capped at this maximum co-payment, so, with a 60-day prescription, people with asthma will get two preventer inhalers for their co-payment instead of one.

A person prescribed one 60-day PBS asthma medicine for $31.60 would pay $189.60 annually instead of $379.20.

Cheaper preventer inhalers are great news for people with asthma.

Preventers are the mainstay of asthma treatment and help to minimise symptoms, prevent decline in lung function and reduce the risk of flare-ups.

Reliever inhalers are not included in 60-day prescribing, because they are intended for short-term symptom relief rather than ongoing management.

Asthma Australia is providing free information and support services where Aussies can speak with an Asthma Educator about 60-day prescribing as well as what stable asthma may mean for them. People with asthma can call 1800 278 462 or visit https://asthma.org.au/60-day-prescribing/