The Eighth Community Pharmacy Agreement will provide the profession with opportunities to play a greater role in the provision of healthcare, Bruce Annabel saysAJP Podcast presenter Carlene McMaugh talks with pharmacy business consultant and AJP columnist, Bruce Annabel, about the 8CPA, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s Strategic Agreement on Pharmacist Professional Practice, and the opportunities it will provide the sector.

Among the topics covered are:

• 8CPA “a very good outcome for the industry” (3 min 09)
• $2.111 billion Additional Community Supply Support Payment (ACSS) provides “recognition of the need to provide financial compensation for the impact of 60-day dispensing (4:25)
• Pharmacy is not losing any services under 8CPA (6:00)
• There is $1.4 billion of services that will be funded outside of the 8CPA and PSA agreement (7:01)
• Uptake of 60-day dispensing has been modest to date, but if it reaches close to 60% the ACSS may not be enough to cover losses (11:26)
• The government has agreed to pay ACSS fees for double dispensed scripts dispensed since 1 April 2024 (12:24)
• Increased funding for professional services under the 8CPA “flags room for growth” (17:00)
• 8CPA provides a platform for a shift to a new model of community pharmacy (22:13)
• Pharmacy has a unique opportunity for pharmacists to come out of their supply role to become health professionals operating in the broader health system (28:30)
• Pharmacy can “take up slack” in primary care (29:55)
• No need for negativity around 8CPA (30:38).

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Carlene McMaugh