Interim Funding Arrangements from October...

Once again things are going to get difficult for contractors...

 I've just been reading the news from the PSNC about the interim funding arrangements.  
 It seems that "this year" it has not been possible to complete the difficult negotiations regarding the funding arrangements - and so an interim settlement has been agreed, which will be delivered by implementing adjustments to the Drug Tariff from October.


 The changes will bring funding levels in line with an interim total funding figure for 2012/13 which is based on that agreed for the last financial year (£2,486m).

 The changes also take into account the results of the 2011/12 margins survey, which shows that pharmacies’ retained purchase margin exceeded the sum allowed by £235 million in the last financial year.
 In essence, the changes being introduced will reduce practice payments by 15p per item (to 58.2p per item) and generic medicine reimbursement prices (Category M) by £72.5 million per quarter, resulting in an overall reduction in average item value (AIV) of 45p per item.


 Remember that the result of this interim settlement will be felt most severely at New Year when final payments will be received for prescriptions dispensed in October...as these payments will reflect the lower fees.

Click Here to read the full information from the PSNC

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