Safety: Benefits Scheme and Level

safety: Under the Coalition's plan to boost funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, concession card holders will meet the safety net for free medicines after 48 scripts, down from 60, while the level for non-concession card holders will be 36, down from 38, according to The Guardian. This returns the safety net to the level it was at in 2009. The competing funding promises come as both leaders return to Tasmania, where the Labor-held seats of Braddon and Bass are seen as vulnerable. Drugs listed on the PBS cost 6.50 per script for concession card holders or 40.30 per script for general patients. Australians suffering from chronic conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, arthritis, asthma, diabetes and cancer are those most likely to benefit given they access multiple medicines. About 1.4 million people will benefit from the policy change, with individuals saving an average of 80 a year. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.