Medicare Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

In 2015–16, Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expenditure per person was $1,341 per Indigenous Australian, which was comparable with $1,288 per person for non-Indigenous Australians.

The interactive figure shows spending on MBS and PBS per person across remoteness areas for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in 2015–16.

Viz 5. Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) expenditure per person, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, by remoteness area of patient’s residence, current prices, 2015–16 ($)

The bar chart shows that in 2015–16, MBS and PBS expenditure per person for Indigenous Australians was highest in Remote and Very Remote areas, followed by Inner and Outer regional areas, and lowest in Major cities. MBS expenditure for Indigenous Australians was 1.3 times non-Indigenous Australians ($1,196 compared with $899 per person). The rate of PBS expenditure for Indigenous Australians was 37% of that for non-Indigenous Australians ($145 compared with $389 per person).

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