ODT changes: how they happened

The AJP Podcast

In this episode of the AJP Podcast, host Carlene McMaugh speaks to harm reduction experts about the way changes to opioid dependence therapy were made – and how pharmacy reacted

Sarah Lord and Sione Crawford of Harm Reduction Victoria discuss the change to ODT funding, which Lord describes as “really monumental”.

But “one of the issues was that no one really knew that this was happening,” she says. “I personally felt we had not all that much notice, and I think pharmacists in particular have reported to me that there was very little if any consultation, they didn’t feel that they were consulted around these reforms, what they were going to look like, how they were going to work.”

Some pharmacies had not realised that they were not able to increase the price of doses beyond $7.30 for 28 days’ dosing for people with health care cards, while prescribers had to get used to a new way to get scripts, she tells McMaugh – while people not eligible for Medicare cards are still facing “phenomenal” increases in fees.

However only around 12 pharmacies around the state said they would close their program, and only about seven did so, saying generally pharmacy has responded well.

She does warn that the changes could be “going to hit pharmacies quite hard on their bottom line” as they came in alongside 60-day dispensing.

Crawford said he had received feedback from his pharmacy that was really positive, despite “disbelief” at the implementation and planning process.

And he also has suggestions for pharmacists to help make the process more manageable.

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Carlene McMaugh