The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has reached an agreement with the National Health Service Executive to reduce contractors' losses when prescriptions with incomplete exemption declarations are treated as chargeable items by the Prescription Pricing Authority.
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Unsigned age exemption declarations will be accepted if the prescriber's computer has printed the date of birth on the front of the prescription |
Mr Dove described the agreement as a significant move. He emphasised that pharmacists should continue to try to ensure that patients completed exemption declarations and signed them. The NHS Executive had warned that the concession might be withdrawn if the number of unsigned forms increased.
In addition, the PPA was to start telling contractors how many prescription forms had been transferred between exempt and chargeable bundles.
The new arrangements would apply to prescriptions dispensed during June and processed during September and October.
Other matters considered at the PSNC's July meeting are reported below.
Remuneration A revised remuneration offer was considered. The committee deferred a final decision until after it had seen the NHS national plan and considered its implications for community pharmacy.
Generic prices A system to replace Drug Tariff Category D had been agreed to deal with shortages of generic medicines after reduced prices for generic medicines came into effect in September. Maximum selling prices would become law on August 3, giving contractors a month in which to clear stocks bought before the price cut. Mr Dove emphasised that contractors should concentrate on Drug Tariff prices, which were likely to be lower than the legal maximum selling prices. During periods of "agreed shortage" contractors would be able to supply brands and be paid for them. Prescriptions would need to be endorsed "NCSO" (no cheaper stock available) and be signed and dated by the pharmacist. Category D would be abolished on August 3. Mr Dove said that some matters, such as what constituted an agreed shortage, remained to be finalised.
NHS plan Representatives of the PSNC and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society would meet immediately after the NHS national plan was announced. The PSNC hoped that the plan would include news on the £1.8m medicines management pilot bid.
Reorganisation A PSNC audit committee report on how to make the PSNC more efficient was approved. An implementation team was appointed to carry forward the report's recommendations. The report was not released for publication.