Contractors should be aware of three amendments to Part VIC from the February 2025 Drug Tariff:
- A provision that will allow claims to be accepted outside the claim window when IT issues outside a contractor’s control prevents them from making a timely claim/declaration. This will apply to the Pharmacy First Service, Hypertension Case-Finding Service, Smoking Cessation Service, and Pharmacy Contraception Service.
- For the Pharmacy First Clinical Pathways element of the Pharmacy First Service a clarification has been added of the expectations of contractors delivering the service, including the supply of prescription only medicines according to Patient Group Directions (PGDs).
- A clarification that after de-registering from some advanced service, the contractor will not be able to re-register for that service for a period of four months from the final day of their 30 days’ notice. This applies to the Pharmacy First Service, Hypertension Case-Finding Service, Smoking Cessation Service and Pharmacy Contraception Service.