Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.24304/kjcp.2020.30.2.73

Application of Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data to the drug utilization studies: A case analysis on atorvastatin  

Lee, Hye-Jae (College of Pharmacy, Woosuk University)
Yu, Su-Yeon (National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy / v.30, no.2, 2020 , pp. 73-80 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective: The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a national drug subsidy program. Given the similarity and comprehensiveness of the Australian PBS and the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) data, these data are increasingly used for pharmacoepidemiological investigations, as well as international comparative studies. This study aims to introduce the various sources of publicly available PBS data and provide a practical guide to researchers conducting drug utilization studies. Methods: We searched literature and websites to detail and compare the collection, structure, components, and characteristics of each PBS data format. We identified different characteristics of the PBS data from the Korean NHI claims data which are mainly owing to their unique co-payment policies and data collection processes. In addition, the utilization and expenditure of atorvastatin, a widely used treatment for hyperlipidemia, were analyzed using two different sources of PBS data and the different results were interpreted. Results: There exist differences in when data were collected or non-subsidized uses of medicine were included among sources of PBS data. Additionally, two countries have different cost sharing methods inmedicine subsidy scheme; co-payment in Australia and co-insurance in Korea. Therefore, it should be noted that prescriptions under co-payment are not included in some data sources in Australia. Conclusion: Despite several analytical challenges, open access and easy data management are the strengths of the PBS data sources. A detailed knowledge of the PBS data can ensure robust methodology and interpretation of pharmacoepidemiological investigations or international comparative studies.
Keywords
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; Australia; drug utilization; claims data; atorvastatin;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Henry D, Stehlik P, Camacho X, Pearson SA. Access to routinely collected data for population health research: experiences in Canada and Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 2018;42(5):430-3.
2 Leonard CE, Brensinger CM, Nam YH, et al. The quality of Medicaid and Medicare data obtained from CMS and its contractors: implications for pharmacoepidemiology. BMC Health Serv Res 2017;17(1):304.   DOI
3 Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Statistics on national health insurance expenditure 2018. Available from http://www.hira.or.kr/bbsDummy.do?pgmid=HIRAA020045010000&brdScnBltNo=4&brdBltNo=2315&pageIndex=1#none. Accessed October 15, 2019.
4 Korea Ministry of Food and Drug. Statistics on food and drug 2018. Available from https://www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_371/down.do?brd_id=stat0016&seq=30714&data_tp=A&file_seq=1. Accessed October 15, 2019.
5 Bae EY. Drug reimbursement decisions in Korea, Australia, and Canada. The Korean Journal of Health Economics and Policy 2011;17(4):1-21.
6 Jung SY, Kim SJ, Kim DS. The review of orphan or anticancer drugs funding programs from foreign countries’ experiences. Yakhak Hoeji 2017;61(2):100-8.   DOI
7 Lee YS, Bae SJ, Lee BR, et al. Review of risk sharing arrangements in some developed countries: focusing on type of contracts and management system. Journal of Health Technology Assessment. 2017;5(1):13-21.
8 Lee HJ. The composition of pharmaceutical expenditure in national health insurance and implications for reasonable spending. Health Policy and Management. 2018;28(4):360-8.   DOI
9 Department of Health. PBS expenditure and prescriptions. Available from http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/expenditure-prescriptions/pbs-expenditure-and-prescriptions. Accessed October 15, 2019.
10 Roughead EE, Kim DS, Ong B, Kemp-Casey A. Pricing policies for generic medicines in Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Singapore: patent expiry and influence on atorvastatin price. WHO South East Asia J Public Health 2018;7(2):99-106.   DOI
11 Department of Health. Australian statistics on medicines. Available from https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/asm/australian-statisticson-medicines. Accessed October 15, 2019.
12 Department of Health. Information on the australian statistics on medicines. Available from http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/asm/asm-2015. Accessed October 15, 2019.
13 Department of Human Services. Pharmaceutical benefits schedule item reports. Available from http://medicarestatistics.humanservices.gov.au/statistics/pbs_item.jsp. Accessed October 15, 2019.
14 Australian Government. National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) act 2010. Available from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2010A00126. Accessed October 15, 2019.
15 Department of Health. Pharmaceutical benefits scheme collection of under co-payment data. Available from http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/under-co-payment/under-co-payment-data. Accessed October 15, 2019.
16 Department of Health. Report on the collection of under co-payment data 2017-18. Available from http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/under-co-payment/ucp-data-report. Accessed October 15, 2019.
17 Seaman KL, Sanfilippo FM, Roughead EE, et al. Impact of consumer copayments for subsidised medicines on health services use and outcomes: a protocol using linked administrative data from Western Australia. BMJ open 2017;7(6):e013691.   DOI
18 WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology. Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment 2019. Available from https://www.whocc.no/filearchive/publications/2019_guidelines_web.pdf. Accessed October 15, 2019.
19 Department of Health. PBS and RPBS Section 85 date of supply data. Available from http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/statistics/dos-anddop/dos-and-dop. Accessed October 15, 2019.
20 Mellish L, Karanges EA, Litchfield MJ, et al. The Australian pharmaceutical benefits scheme data collection: a practical guide for researchers. BMC Res Notes 2015;8(1):634.
21 Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Statistics on medicines. In: Healthcare Bigdata Hub. Available from http://opendata.hira.or.kr/op/opc/olapMsupInfo.do. Accessed October 15, 2019.
22 Wettermark B, Zoega H, Furu K, et al. The Nordic prescription databases as a resource for pharmacoepidemiological research-a literature review. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2013;22(7):691-9.   DOI
23 Department of Health. What is the PBS? Available from http://www.pbs. gov.au/info/about-the-pbs#What_is_the_PBS. Accessed October 15, 2019.
24 Avorn J. In defense of pharmacoepidemiology-embracing the yin and yang of drug research. N Engl J Med 2007;357(22):2219-21.
25 Chen YC, Wu JC, Haschler I, Majeed A, Chen TJ, Wetter T. Academic impact of a public electronic health database: bibliometric analysis of studies using the general practice research database. PloS One 2011;6(6):e21404.   DOI
26 Pearson SA, Pesa N, Langton JM, Drew A, Faedo M, Robertson J. Studies using Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for pharmacoepidemiological research: a systematic review of the published literature (1987-2013). Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2015;24(5):447-55.   DOI