Part 7 of the Drug Tariff in Scotland changes on 1 April
Changes to part 7 of the Drug Tariff will be implemented in Scotland on 1 April. The intention is to mirror the category M system adopted in England, with money being moved away from reimbursement to remuneration. However, full details of the new arrangements cannot be announced until negotiations on the financial package for the new community pharmacy contract have been completed.
The transitional arrangements that have been in place for the past year — a
discount rate of 27.75 per cent and a transitional balancing payment
to produce an overall clawback of 13.25 per cent — ended on 31
March. From 1 April, the balancing payment will no longer be paid and
clawback returns to 13.25 per cent.
Elspeth Weir, head of community pharmacy policy development at the Scottish
Pharmaceutical General Council, told The Journal: “Negotiations
on the make up and distribution of the new global sum are on-going.
“We are aiming to ensure that the monies transferred from reimbursement
will be distributed in a simple and effective manner with high priority
given to maintaining cash flow. SPGC is planning a series of new contract
road shows for contractors at the beginning of May.”
Dr Weir wrote to contractors last week to set out the changes to part
7 of the Drug Tariff. From 1 April, part 7 will include products that
fall within category M pricing (a list of which contractors in Scotland
can access on the SPGC website, www.spgc.org.uk) and some non-category
M drugs.
New products have also been added, details of which are given in the
letter. |
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