The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7404 p670
10 June 2006

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News summary

Pharmacies exceeding MUR quota prompts DoH guidance

Some pharmacies may be exceeding the current annual limit of 250 medicines use reviews (MURs), the Department of Health believes, and it has issued guidance on what primary care trusts should do if this occurs.

The guidance states that PCTs should monitor MUR claims for 2005–06 and 2006–07. If a PCT believes a contractor may have exceeded the limit it should request copies of FP34Cs submitted by the contractor, so that the PCT has written evidence of any overclaiming before any action is taken. In cases where the limit has been exceeded and fraud is not an issue, PCTs should notify contractors and seek to recover any overpayment. Where the PCT believes a fraudulent claim may have been made it should report this immediately to the NHS Business Services Authority.

The guidance also reminds PCTs that, where extra MURs have been arranged as a local enhanced service, contractors should be paid for this using a local payment mechanism.