Specials Tariff comes into effect.

[André]

The NHS has published the list of DT Specials for November 2011.

NHS Business Services Authority

Very interesting, this will make the market more competitive for manufacturers of unlicensed products, this is in response to the NHS having to pay high prices for some specials. BBC News - Drugs 'specials' cost NHS £160m

It should get rid of the middle men inflating prices... What are the thoughts of the forum on this?


Dre

[tinx25388]

So does the price cap affect OOPEs? Only reason I ask, we now order all our specials through our wholesaler, who adds a £20 handling charge. I'm dubious of the motivations for this, as so far, their inability to understand instructions such as "must NOT expire until 31st october" has cost us/them about £150!!

[Pharmanaut]

So does the price cap affect OOPEs? Only reason I ask, we now order all our specials through our wholesaler, who adds a £20 handling charge. I'm dubious of the motivations for this, as so far, their inability to understand instructions such as "must NOT expire until 31st october" has cost us/them about £150!!

Asking similar questions myself..... and to our PMR supplier.
As usual they know as much as we do - until the tariff is released.
It seems no-one in the NHS realises we use computer systems for endorsing etc.
What we have to do depends on what part of the tariff it goes in, either part VIII or a new part altogether
Also; how will this work on the DM+D where all the pack sizes are in units of 1 (1ml or 1g etc etc)
How can we organise anything in time?

[gigeordie]

Finally and end to the fraud (whoops, meant to say 'rebate system')!

[André]

I'd imagine the class that they make the medicines in the tariff will affect the OOPE.

(Gigeordie) Not necessarily, originally there were discounts allowed in specials, but then these were made illegal, as people were claiming £100 for an item they paid i.e. £80 for... So they just renamed it to Rebate.. This isn't illegal, but un-ethical. They need to make it illegal in order to stop it happening.
Currently anyone could still offer a rebate on an item that is on this list, but it would be pointless as they would only be reimbursed for the price set out in the tariff.. However, other meds will be able for rebates that aren't on the tariff, hense why I believe the tariff will increase over time. Eventually Eliminating middle men who mark up prices, in theory..

[shan]

Does anyone remeber reading a post by someone ... somewehre on this forum about a multimillionaire ??? ........ I don't want go further. Do your research and you will find how that happened, and how NHS funds have made many a rich in a wrong way, just because of these ill slated regulations, leaving thousands of honest pharmacists struggle to maintain a respectful lifestyle.

And how it has ultimately led to so many cuts. Did I hear sarcastic ??? possibly. Did I hear .... baseless allegationss ??? ok here it goes. When you next time locum in a pharmacy (more so in an independent chain or a single pharmacy) get the account number of that pharmacy with their preffered specials supplier. Next thing, give a call to that specials manufacturer and give a account number that does not exist, and after a long search and you keep trying to get it right just say " OK I don't think I have an account, could you please tell me how much will it cost (any damn product)" you will get a repply in 30 secs -- £x.00. Then call back after 10 minutes and give the actual account number and ask for the price and hold your heart. The price you will get this time is £x.00 + 60%(x) So just imagine what must have happened in the days when there was hardly any noise against the specials (if I remeber the noise started in late 2008 and picked up pace in late 2010)

Does it matter ??? the damage has been done . . . . all you are trying to do is just a face sving exercise.

Shan

[LeftArm]

I don't understand why the products listed should be treated any differently to other drugs bearing in mind the amount of money spent on them. They have a short shelf life so have to be specially prepared but so do oral antibiotics.
Pharmacy needs clarity in its remuneration but some people, as shan suggests, are making money on the grey areas and so don't want the system to be accurate.
Their profits are comming from the global sum which is coming out of the pockets of everyone else.

[Pharmanaut]

I often wonder how many oral liquids are given to the 'can't swallow tablets' brigade.
The GP hears this and says, Oh there's a liquid available you can have that, without realising its a special.
The other thing is; we can't advocate powdering the standard tablets as it might invalidate the product license.

So we just dispense the prescription with "reasonable promptness".

[johnep]

WE had a whole session of newly diagnosed diabetics demanding sugar free tablets. Probably a reason why so few are now sugar coated. Abbots introduced film coating many years ago. Now standard.
johnep