Sheffield pharmacies to be rewarded for identifying potential drug cost savings
Pharmacies in Sheffield will be paid for identifying potential cost savings on prescriptions when a new enhanced service starts next month. Sheffield Primary Care trust is commissioning the service, which will be launched through two practice-based commissioning consortiums in deprived areas of the city.
The aim of the service is to reduce the PCT’s drug costs by optimising
prescribing. Pharmacies will be paid £4 each time they inform a
prescriber of a saving that could be made on a prescription, for example,
through dose optimisation, quantity synchronisation or by highlighting
items that have been prescribed in excessive quantities, are not needed
or should only be prescribed in secondary care.
Payment will not be dependent on action being taken by the GP and prescriptions
will be dispensed as normal unless the pharmacist considers this to be
inappropriate.
If, after a discussion with the patient or carer, items are not dispensed,
the contractor will be reimbursed 10 per cent of the cost of the item
as well as the £4 fee.
Pharmacies will only be paid for informing the GP of a particular saving
for the same patient on two occasions. On the second occasion, a copy
of the recommendation will be sent to the practice pharmacist who will
raise the issue internally.
Sheffield Local Pharmaceutical Committee secretary Steve Freedman said
that, if successful, the scheme would benefit contractors, GPs, the PCT
and patients. “The service will improve pharmacists’ professional
standing, improve GPs’ prescribing and decrease the PCT’s
prescribing costs. It should also mean that patients do not have cupboards
full of medicines that they do not need.”
He added that, although
this type of recommendation could be made during a medicines use review,
the scheme is intended to encourage pharmacists to identify savings
via quick interventions at the point of dispensing.
A form has been developed that can be posted or faxed to the relevant
surgery. This will form the basis of payment and will allow the service
to be audited to monitor its
effectiveness. The scheme, which is based
on one developed by the Co-operative Pharmacy, will be piloted in two
areas of
high deprivation since these have higher
prescribing costs. If successful, it will be rolled out across the city. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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