To the Editor: There appear to be regional differences in the prescribing of amino acid infant formula in Australia. This is possibly due to differing practices in use of this formula as a first-line treatment for cow’s milk allergy or as a strategy for preventing allergy. This has financial implications, as the cost to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of amino acid formula is $371 per prescription, compared with $106 for hydrolysed protein formula.1
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- 1. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Schedule of pharmaceutical benefits for approved pharmacists and medical practitioners. Effective from 1 August 2004. Available at: www1.health.gov.au/pbs/ (accessed Oct 2004).
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