Page 12 - P4304.1-V93_PS-Magazine-January 2024 -

Prescription management

and wrong group movements:

The Financial Impact on your dispensary.

By Caroline Pond.

Whilst we seem to spend endless hours worrying about the cost of drugs
and whether we are getting a good enough deal from our suppliers, we
sometimes forget to look closer to home when it comes to improving our
profitability. Avoidable losses are sometimes overlooked, usually because
they are not even on our radar. Wrong group movements are one of those
losses. I think they need your attention as they can have considerable
financial repercussions for you as a dispensing contractor.

Understanding NHS prescription Exemptions: Some groups of patients are
charges and dispensing contractors exempt from paying prescription charges.
These exemptions are listed on the reverse of
You all know that some patients must pay the FP10 form and include:
for their prescriptions, and they pay you. The
current fee is £9.65 (correct at the time of • Individuals under the age of 16.
writing this article). • Individuals aged 16-18 in full-time
However, this money is not dispensary income. education.
These charges are essentially a financial • People aged 60 and over.
contribution made by patients to help fund
the cost of their medications and the broader • Pregnant women and new mothers (up to
healthcare system and they are passed one year after childbirth).
onwards to the NHS by means of a deduction • Individuals with specific medical
from your drug payments in that month, conditions, including diabetes and
based on the number of paid items submitted. epilepsy.
Prescription charges are intended to ensure • Recipients of certain benefits (e.g., Income
that the NHS remains sustainable and Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Tax
accessible to all, while also covering the Credit, etc).
costs associated with the production and
distribution of prescription medications.

Here’s a brief overview of prescription charges
and where the money goes:

Prescription charges: Prescription charges
apply to prescriptions issued in England.
In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland,
prescriptions are generally provided free of
charge to patients.

However, there are exemptions and special
categories for prescription charges in England
that allow certain individuals to receive
prescriptions without paying.

12 PS Magazine | Prescription management and wrong group movements Buy direct online at PSUK.co.uk

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