Important News on LATE PAYMENT OF PHARMACY SERVICES (Minor Ailments & MAR Charts) - Action Needed

Gateshead & South Tyneside LPC met with Chris Sharpe (Finance Director at NECS) and Janette Stephenson recently to discuss the non payment of CCG commissioned services (Minor Ailments & MAR Charts). 

Going Forward
 
Following a robust discussion we agreed the following.
 

1. The current monthly claim forms  will be amended further to allow easy completion electronically and capture all essential data (e.g. consultation fees and drug costs)
2. We will add this form to our website for future claims. PLEASE USE THIS FOR FUTURE CLAIMS FROM MAY 2014 onwards.  - Once the form is uploaded to the website we will email again.
3. The new form will contain the following:-
   1. a place to include company bank details in order for BACS payments instead of Cheque Payments
   2. an additional section to capture the number of consulations  (professional fees) 

 
Historic Claims - Action Needed
 
Contractors are well aware that they haven’t been paid correctly (if at all) for these professional services dating back to April 2013. Recently contractors resubmitted these claim, however the LPC has discovered that there are still problems with missing data - including professional fees. This will result in further underpayment.
 
The LPC has brought this to NECS attention and asked for this be remedied asap. 
 
To this end a pre-popualted form will be sent from NECS in the near future (Next week) for you to double check and add in the missing data. (E.g. April 2013 to April 2014 claims and numbers of prescription forms submitted).  

Returning this will ensure you are paid promptly and fully for all CCG services delivered between April 2013 and April 2014. (13 months outstanding)
 
We understand this will be frustrating for contractors as this will be the third time you will be submitting this data.  The LPC made it perfectly clear that this was unacceptable and NECs have offered an 8% late payment compensatory fee for all outstanding monies.  This will be automatically added.  
 
NECS have apologised sincerely and have agreed to work over time to process these payments as a matter of urgency.
We urge all contractors to return the pre-populated forms as soon as they receive it.
 
We appreciate this situation is not ideal however we believe the outcomes we have agreed will bring this matter to a close.