Safety Net Insights

BETA

Safety Net Insights helps you understand when your medication refills are likely to count toward your PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) Safety Net – so you can make more informed decisions about your health and costs.

Some PBS medications have an early refill limit. If you refill too soon, that fill may not count toward your Safety Net for the year. Safety Net Insights shows you when your next refill is likely to count, based on the information available to us.

Safety Net Insights provides general information to support medication management. It is not medical advice and does not replace guidance from your pharmacist or healthcare provider. For advice specific to your medications, please speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Why It Matters

The PBS Safety Net helps reduce the cost of medications for individuals and families once your spending reaches a certain amount in a calendar year.

Safety Net Insights helps you:

Make the most of your PBS Safety Net benefits
Reduce the chance of paying out of pocket unnecessarily
Stay informed about your medication refills
Reduce the chance of your order being cancelled – if a script is too early to dispense, your pharmacist will need to contact you and the order may not go through
Reduce the chance of paying out of pocket if your refill doesn't count toward your Safety Net

How It Works

Some PBS medications have a 20-day or 50-day early refill limit. This means refilling too soon may mean that fill doesn't count toward your Safety Net threshold.

Here's what Scripty does:

We use your last dispensed date – when your script was last filled – and the PBS early refill rules for your medication to work out a suggested refill date.
If your medication has an early refill limit, we'll show a reminder on the script detail screen and during the ordering process.
You'll see the earliest date your next fill is likely to count toward your Safety Net, based on the information available to us.
You can still refill whenever you need to – the date shown is a guide, not a restriction.

Disclaimer: Scripty provides guidance based on the information available to us, including your scripts and the last dispensed date. This information is intended as a general guide only and may not reflect your exact PBS Safety Net status. Always consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the PBS Safety Net?

The PBS Safety Net is a government program that reduces the cost of your medications once you and your family have spent a certain amount on PBS scripts within a calendar year (resetting each 1 January).

Some medications are subject to the PBS early supply rule. If a script is refilled before the rule allows, that fill may not count toward your Safety Net threshold.

2. What is the PBS Safety Net early supply rule?

Some PBS medications have an early supply rule. A fill only counts toward your Safety Net if you wait a certain number of days before refilling – usually 20 days or 50 days, depending on the medication. Refilling before this window may mean the cost doesn't count toward your Safety Net for that fill.

3. How does Scripty work out my suggested refill date?

We use your last dispensed date – when your script was last filled – and the PBS early supply rules for your medication. If we have your last dispensed date, we can show you the earliest date your next fill is likely to count toward your Safety Net.

4. What if Scripty doesn't know when I last filled my script?

If we don't have your last dispensed date, we can't calculate your Safety Net window. Your pharmacist can tell you when your next refill is likely to count toward your Safety Net.

5. Can I still refill my medication before the suggested date?

Yes. The date shown is a guide to help you make the most of your Safety Net benefits – it's not a restriction. You can refill whenever you need to. If you do refill early, that fill may not count toward your Safety Net threshold.

6. What if I run out of medication before the suggested refill date?

Speak to your pharmacist or doctor. They can help you work out your options and make sure you have the medication you need.

7. Does Safety Net Insights apply to all my scripts?

Only to medications subject to the PBS early supply rule. Not all scripts have one – if yours doesn't, you won't see a Safety Net reminder for it.

8. How current is the PBS information in the app?

We update our PBS information on the 1st of every month. If a rule changes between updates, there may be a brief delay before the app reflects it. Your pharmacist always has the most current information.

9. I'm a pharmacist or prescriber – how should I think about this feature?

Safety Net Insights is a consumer-facing prompt, not a clinical decision-support tool. It surfaces publicly available PBS early supply rule information to help patients plan their refills with their Safety Net entitlements in mind. It does not gate or restrict dispensing in any way, and is not intended to replace clinical judgement, pharmacist counselling, or the dispensing system's own checks.

9. Where can I learn more about the PBS Safety Net?

Visit the PBS website or speak to your pharmacist.