From the link above
The government will fund $1.3 billion worth of new generation cancer drugs over four years through listing on the PBS.
From this link http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/health/budget-2015-drug-firms-prepare-for-war/story...
The government is proposing a 5 per cent cut in what it pays for some leading medicines, including the latest cancer drugs, in a bid to save the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme $3 billion from the innovative medicines sector alone in the next five years. The savings are understood to be part of government plans to cut as much as $5bn from the PBS over the next five years.
Sources have told The Australian that total savings from the health budget will exceed $7bn in Tuesday’s budget.
http://medisecure.com.au/pharmacy-guild-vows-to-campaign-against-1-prescription-discount-plan/
Here is another measure about to be introduced in the May Budget that will negatively affect concession cardholders $ wise, who require ongoing prescriptions.
Pharmacy Guild vows to campaign against $1 Prescription Discount Plan
The Federal Government is looking to introduce an optional $1 discount on prescriptions in the May 12 budget which it claims would encourage competition among retail pharmacies.
Under the proposed change, pharmacies will be forced to pay for the $1 discount, costing them $800 million over 5 years.
This measure is expected to generate budget savings of about $400 million over 5 years by delaying patients’ access to the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) safety net. For example, a concession cardholder would have to pay for 72 instead of 60 scripts a year to reach the $366 safety net threshold, after which medicines under the PBS become free.
