The Department of Health has agreed to refund the discount clawback taken from English and Welsh pharmacy contractors in respect of generic prescriptions for tacrolimus capsules dispensed during March and April.
Dr Gordon Geddes (head of information and technical services, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee) told The Journal on November 19 that contractors in England should send written refund claims to Pharmaceutical Advisory Services, Prescription Pricing Authority, Bridge House, 152 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6SN. Contractors in Wales should claim from the Practitioner Payments Board in Wales. Claims should include the contractor's account number, the prescriber's name and reference number, the prescription serial number, the number and strength of the capsules dispensed and the month in which they were dispensed. Claims that contractors had lodged with the PSNC's National Prescription Research Centre had already been forwarded to the PPA. The refund has been agreed because tacrolimus capsules, which cost £1.85 each (1mg strength) and £7.43 each (5mg) were not in the Drug Tariff zero discount list for March and April, although the branded product, which was the only form available, was zero discounted.
| Correction Contractors only need tell pricing authorities the number of prescriptions involved in order to claim a refund of the discount clawback, and not prescription serial numbers. |