The College has registered strong concerns about a proposal to amend the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule so that only a psychiatrist or a geriatrician can initially prescribe antipsychotics as a pharmaceutical benefit for people in residential aged care, with General Practitioners then being able to issue repeat prescriptions only for a further 12 months from the original prescription date. 

Reflecting the large amount of feedback from members, the College submission outlines the potential of this proposal to undermine rather than improve the quality of care in rural and remote residential aged care facilities, with lack of, or delayed access to, geriatricians and psychiatrists putting both patients and the health professional caring for them at risk.  

In addition, any proposal that increases the burden on GPs or excludes them from providing a service could lead to further reductions in access to necessary and high-quality care for patients in residential aged care facilities in rural and remote areas. 

The College has written to the Minister for Health, the Minister for Regional Health, the Minister for Aged Care Services and the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing to reiterate these concerns. 

ACRRM has also requested an urgent meeting with representatives from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.