|
For information to:
HA Chief Executives
HA Directors of Finance
Prescription Charges
You may be aware that from 1 April 2001, there are some differences in the prescription charging arrangements between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales the prescription charge remains at £6.00 and young people aged under 25 will be entitled to free prescriptions. In England the charge is £6.10 (as announced in the mailing mid March) and the exemption arrangements are unchanged, ie children under 16 and young people under 19 in full time education are entitled to free prescriptions.
The arrangements to apply will be those appropriate to where dispensing takes place. If dispensing takes place in England, English rules will apply even if the prescription was written in Wales or the patient has an address in Wales.
The line to take if advice is sought by dispensing contractors is enclosed. This is also on the web site of the Department of Health and the Prescription Pricing Authority.
Could you please cascade this information to all staff who deal with dispensing contractors and/or prescription charges.
PRESCRIPTION CHARGES IN THE UK:
GUIDE FOR DISPENSING CONTRACTORS
DEVOLUTION - DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT
From 1 April 2001 there are some differences in the arrangements for prescription charges between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales the level of charge remains £6 and everybody under 25 gets free prescriptions.
As a pharmacist working in England, you must apply the rules which apply in England, even if you get a prescription written in Wales, or if the patient has an address in Wales.
The charge for each item is £6.10
Young people aged 16-25 are only entitled to free prescriptions if they qualify for some reason other than simply their age, e.g
- they are under 19 and in full-time education
- they have a health authority exemption certificate
- they have a pre-payment certificate
- they qualify on low income grounds.
These are the rules the PPA will apply when calculating the payments due to your pharmacy and when checking whether people have claimed free prescriptions when they should not have done.
It's simple - always apply the same rules to all prescriptions you are given!
|
