You may find the following extract from the most recent edition of Community Pharmacy News helpful:
Can I claim out of pocket expenses on appliances?
Out of pocket expenses can only be claimed on products listed in Part IXB and IXC of the Drug Tariff, but they cannot be claimed for appliances listed in Part IXA or IXR.
The PsNC Information Team often receives calls about Part IXA appliances that are not available from wholesalers without additional charges such ascarriage. The first thing to do is to contact the manufacturer to find out whether it is possible to obtain the product directly without charge or if they know of any suppliers who don’t charge for carriage. In order to list a product in Part IXA the Drug Tariff, manufacturers must declare that their product "will be readily available to dispensing contractors either through the normalwholesale network or on equivalent terms" so if a product is unavailable without additional charges from either the manufacturer or the wholesale network, the manufacturer may not be meeting the requirements for their product to remain listed in the Tariff. Please report any products in this scenario to the PsNC Information Team [email protected] or 0844 381 4180) who will look into the problem and, where necessary, escalate the problem to NHs Prescription services. whilst a problem is being looked into, as it can take some time, it may be worth talking to the PCT as PsNC are aware that in some areas, to ensure patient access to affected appliances, PCTs have agreed to make discretionarypayments to cover the difference between the costs incurred in obtaining a particular appliance and thereimbursement. Another alternative is to discuss theproblem with the prescriber and consider requesting a new prescription for an equivalent product which isavailable without additional charges. As a last resort, NHs pharmacy contractors are not contractuallyobliged to supply appliances that would not normally be supplied in the course of their business. Therefore if acontractor is faced with making a financial loss through dispensing an appliance, they may choose not todispense it.
Can I claim out of pocket expenses on appliances?
Out of pocket expenses can only be claimed on products listed in Part IXB and IXC of the Drug Tariff, but they cannot be claimed for appliances listed in Part IXA or IXR.
The PsNC Information Team often receives calls about Part IXA appliances that are not available from wholesalers without additional charges such ascarriage. The first thing to do is to contact the manufacturer to find out whether it is possible to obtain the product directly without charge or if they know of any suppliers who don’t charge for carriage. In order to list a product in Part IXA the Drug Tariff, manufacturers must declare that their product "will be readily available to dispensing contractors either through the normalwholesale network or on equivalent terms" so if a product is unavailable without additional charges from either the manufacturer or the wholesale network, the manufacturer may not be meeting the requirements for their product to remain listed in the Tariff. Please report any products in this scenario to the PsNC Information Team [email protected] or 0844 381 4180) who will look into the problem and, where necessary, escalate the problem to NHs Prescription services. whilst a problem is being looked into, as it can take some time, it may be worth talking to the PCT as PsNC are aware that in some areas, to ensure patient access to affected appliances, PCTs have agreed to make discretionarypayments to cover the difference between the costs incurred in obtaining a particular appliance and thereimbursement. Another alternative is to discuss theproblem with the prescriber and consider requesting a new prescription for an equivalent product which isavailable without additional charges. As a last resort, NHs pharmacy contractors are not contractuallyobliged to supply appliances that would not normally be supplied in the course of their business. Therefore if acontractor is faced with making a financial loss through dispensing an appliance, they may choose not todispense it.
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