The Commonwealth Government would provide dedicated funding to state and territory governments to fund the dispensing fees for all patients receiving opioid dependence treatment (methadone, buprenorphine and buprenorphine‐naloxone) and any associated administration costs.

The dispensing fee funding would be a standardised amount paid by states and territories to dosing point sites (mostly community pharmacies) for each dose of opioid dependence treatment.

Currently, the Commonwealth Government funds the pharmaceutical used for the treatment of opioid dependence through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), but not the costs for dispensing these drugs.

The proposal would have effect from 1 July 2019.