Obtaining appliances, just Boots or everywhere?

[razorbladekisses]

When I label a Rx for say a catheter a message flashes up saying if this is the only item on the Rx to order it from X (I can't recall the place at the moment). I've asked at work why this is but no one can give me an answer. The message usually gets ignored and we just order the appliance from our usual wholesaler. I'm wondering if this is just a Boots thing or is it all pharmacies and if it is why are we no longer permitted to order a Rx with just an appliance from our normal wholesaler.

Does anyone know about this?

[Zoggite]

Sounds like a "Boots-only" thing: they're probably in cahoots with some appliance warehouse/supplier, just like different multiples have different "deals" with certain Specials manufacturers.

[Pharmanaut]

Sounds like a "Boots-only" thing: they're probably in cahoots with some appliance warehouse/supplier, just like different multiples have different "deals" with certain Specials manufacturers.

Is there an agency agreement with an Appliance Contractor in place.
Higher dispsensing fee (oncost) for these contractors. Script has to be passed to them for submission. Percentage to pharmacy.

[lamzee]

Rowlands did that with Wardles-- you posted the rx to Wardles and they paid commission to Rowlands.

[Tony Schofield]

It looks like agency schemes will be unnecessary from April 2010 as pharmacies will be paid on the same basis as appliance contractors.

[happy_bunny]

The pharmacy I did the second part of my pre-reg in had a similar setup with one of the ostomy suppliers (might have been NWOS) - having a flash-up message might have been useful then because I kept forgetting and endorsing the script (they wouldn't accept if it had been endorsed)

[Pharmanaut]

The pharmacy I did the second part of my pre-reg in had a similar setup with one of the ostomy suppliers (might have been NWOS) - having a flash-up message might have been useful then because I kept forgetting and endorsing the script (they wouldn't accept if it had been endorsed)

Hard to put a specific flash up message unless someone in the pharmacy does it for them all, or Head Office pay someone like Cegedimrx to put them on.

[johnep]

In Mediphase and Pharmacy Manager you can insert messages that flash up on the screen when first input pt. I have been trying to get them to provide same facility for products (Stored in back room etc).
johnep

[bobbin]

It looks like agency schemes will be unnecessary from April 2010 as pharmacies will be paid on the same basis as appliance contractors.

As far as I know, the discount deduction scale will still apply to pharmacies dispensing appliances, but not to appliance contractors. Also, I don't know what the situation will be with regard to dressings and wound care products. The new arrangements only appear to apply to stoma and incontinence appliances.

It would be a shame to loose the 'agency schemes' entirely because they are certainly a useful way of ordering rare and expensive dressings if the prescriber has ordered less than a full box............can't claim broken bulk on dressings. They're also a useful way of dispensing certain catheters which would otherwise only be available from the specials dept of wholesaler........can't claim OOP expenses on catheters (Part IXa).

Of course, we SHOULD be able to claim BB and/or OOP expenses on all appliances...........and the discount deduction scale SHOULDN'T be applied to all appliances as it currently is. Doesn't look like this is about to change at any point in the near future though.....so I'm not going to wish for the demise of the agency schemes just yet! The major issue at the moment is that certain appliances are always dispensed at a loss unless an agency scheme is used. In spite of the proposed arrangements, this will continue to occur in some cases where.......

a) Product is not discounted by the wholesaler/manufacturer - currently, the DoH will not allow any appliance to be added to the 'discount not deducted' list in the Tariff.
b) Product in Part IXa of Tariff is not available without incurring OOP expenses.
c) Product in Part IXa (eg. dressing) is prescribed as a split pack and the remainder cannot be used up.

Bobbin

[bobbin]

When I label a Rx for say a catheter a message flashes up saying if this is the only item on the Rx to order it from X (I can't recall the place at the moment). I've asked at work why this is but no one can give me an answer. The message usually gets ignored and we just order the appliance from our usual wholesaler. I'm wondering if this is just a Boots thing or is it all pharmacies and if it is why are we no longer permitted to order a Rx with just an appliance from our normal wholesaler.

Does anyone know about this?

Do Boots use Wilkinson's Healthcare for appliances?