Page 5 - Byfields Budget 2024
P. 5
Health Minister Mark Butler said the clinics which are already up, and
running are “fulfilling their promise by making sure Australians can walk in
and receive urgent care quickly and for free”.
“The Albanese Government is building on the program's success by
increasing the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics nationally from 58
to 87,” he said.
Costs for PBS prescriptions are also going to be frozen, meaning nobody
will pay any more than $31.60 for a prescription.
Dr Chalmers said this would be even cheaper for pensioners and
concession card holders.
“Six out of ten PBS scripts go to pensioners and concession cardholders,”
he said. “And we will freeze the cost of their medicines, for five years”.
“No pensioner or concession cardholder will pay more than $7.70 for the
medicine they need.”
New medicines have also been added to the PBS, including a
breast cancer treatment which slashes the cost from $100,000 to just
$31.60.
