On 30 September 2010 the Senate referred the following matter to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25 November 2010:
Consumer access to pharmaceutical benefits and the creation of new therapeutic groups through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), including:
(a) the impact of new therapeutic groups on consumer access to existing PBS drugs, vaccines and future drugs, particularly high cost drugs;
(b) the criteria and clinical evidence used to qualify drugs as interchangeable at a patient level;
(c) the effect of new therapeutic groups on the number and size of patient contributions;
(d) consultation undertaken in the development of new therapeutic groups;
(e) the impact of new therapeutic groups on the classification of medicines in F1 and F2 formularies;
(f) the delay to price reductions associated with the price disclosure provisions due to take effect on 1 August 2009 and the reasons for the delay;
(g) the process and timing of consideration by Cabinet of high cost drugs and vaccines;
(h) and any other related matters.
The Senate re-referred this inquiry with the same terms of reference as the committee's previous inquiry during the 42nd Parliament. This reference was re-referred so the committee can complete and table a comprehensive report on its findings.
For further information, contact: Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia