The Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement (8CPA) supports the Australian Government in delivering its National Medicines Policy. It plays a vital role in ensuring patient access to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidized medicines and pharmacy health services through community pharmacies across Australia.
The 8CPA has an overall funding envelope of $26.44 billion comprising
$24.55 billion
for dispensing remuneration including $2.11 billion for new fees related to 60-day scripts
$1.3 billion
for programs including increases to DAA caps
$589 million
for other policy commitments including extending a $1 reduction in co-payments to all Australians in place of the optional $1 discount
Key Outcomes
Reversing the damage of 60-day dispensing through structural change to dispensing remuneration
$2.11b for new fees related to 60-day dispensing
$4.88b increase in total funding from 7CPA (+22%), including a $3.94b increase in dispensing remuneration and a 35% increase in programs funding
Average PBS remuneration per script to increase year-on-year each year of 8CPA, and the dispense fee, Tier 1 AHI fee and dangerous drug fee to be indexed by CPI on 1 July each year
Co-payment indexation frozen, and patient co-payments to all reduce by $1, with current $1 discount to be gone by January 2029
DAA base cap increase from 60 to 90 per week
An additional $52 million for RPMA
Further Commitments
- Remuneration
- Policy
Remuneration
- An additional $4.88 billion in total funding compared to 7CPA
- CPI indexation on AHI, Dispensing (RPPB & EPPB), Dangerous Drug and Safety Net Recording Fees guaranteeing annualised growth in the fees paid by the Commonwealth to community pharmacies
- An additional AHI payment to community pharmacies for dispensing a subsidised 60-day prescription, commencing at $4.79 on prescriptions dispensed from 1 April 2024
- A 30% increase in funding for Community Pharmacy Programs, like Dose Administration Aids, Indigenous Dose Administration Aids, MedsCheck, Diabetes MedsCheck and Staged Supply Programs.
- An increase in the Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance support the 1,226 pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia
- An increase in the weekly base cap of Dose Administration Aids, delivering up to $9625 extra per year for small pharmacies
- A new 8CPA Adjustment Mechanism to ensure the Commonwealth’s $3 billion commitment announced at APP2024 is fully expended over the life of the CPA
- The phasing-in over the $1 discount for all Australians, funded by the Commonwealth Government
- The temporary freezing of PBS copayments for up to 5 years.
Policy
- The Government has no plans to change 60-day dispensing to 90-day dispensing
- The Government has no plans to change Location Rules
- There are stronger consultation processes, requiring the Government to formally consult with the Pharmacy Guild on any Health portfolio policy that may affect community pharmacies or the pharmacy profession.
- The Government has re-committed its support for the maintenance of pharmacy ownership rules.
8CPA Calculator
Use the 8CPA Calculator to compare your remuneration for the final year of the 7CPA with the first year of the 8CPA.
Latest News
Frequently Asked Questions
Your 8CPA questions answered.
Check back regularly for more FAQs - or reach out if you have another question pbs.issues@guild.org.au