Prescription Data Capture, Pricing and Contractor Payment Systems

One of the main functions of the NHSBSA PPD is to calculate and make payments for amounts due for supplying drugs and appliances prescribed under the NHS. The following systems enable this function to occur.

Data Capture Systems

The NHSBSA PPD captures FP10 and non-FP10 prescription items submitted monthly by:

• pharmacy contractors
• appliance contractors
• dispensing doctors/practices
• prescribing doctors/practices.

Pricing Systems

Once captured, the prescription items are processed so that payment and reimbursement for a dispensing contractor can be calculated in accordance with the rules defined in the Drug Tariff.

Payment to Contractors

Each month the NHSBSA PPD pays authorised sums direct to the bank accounts of the following:

• Pharmacy contractors for the supply of drugs, chemical reagents and appliances and locally authorised payments (e.g. rota, high cost drug advances, payment under the Essential Small Pharmacy Scheme and Local Pharmaceutical Services)
• Appliance contractors for the supply of appliances

A Schedule of Payment is sent to the dispensing contractor five working days before payment is made, showing:

• total payment, by payment element
• analysis of expensive items dispensed in the given period
• items transferred between exempt and chargeable groups

Dispensing Doctors and Personally Administered Items

The NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for the capture, calculation and authorisation of payment to dispensing doctors and prescribing GPs for:

• drugs
• appliances
• personally administered items.

This information is transferred to a specified payment site and reimbursement is made by the appropriate Primary Care Trust.

Financial Information

In addition the NHSBSA PPD produces Financial Information for Primary Care Trusts & the Department of Health.