COTA Australia is the peak national policy body of older Australians. Its members are the eight State and Territory Councils on the Ageing (COTA) in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, ACT and the Northern Territory.
COTA Australia has a focus on national policy issues from the perspective of older people as citizens and consumers and seeks to promote, improve and protect the circumstances and wellbeing of all older Australians; promote and protect their interests; and promote effective responses to their needs.
When we surveyed our membership about areas of concern to them in the lead up to the 2013 Federal election, access to quality and affordable health care came out as the number one concern. In those survey results it became clear that older Australians greatly value the access to reasonably priced medicines that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) gives them and that they have a good understanding of the degree of subsidy that is provided by the PBS.
In the build up to the Federal Budget there was media speculation about what would happen to PBS co-payments. We had people contacting us raising concerns about the cost of medicines and how any further increases would mean they might have to limit their use of medicines and visits to doctors. After the Budget was announced a number of older people contacted us to express dismay at the announced changes to PBS copayments.
