From April 2022, contractors will have to make all monthly FP34C submissions only through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said in an update.
This will be for prescriptions dispensed from March 2022.
The last paper FP34C submission document will be posted out to contractors this month.
Contractors who have not yet registered for MYS, can do so by completing the form on the NHSBSA's website.
While encouraging contractors to switch to the MYS, the negotiator stated that nearly 1,500 pharmacy contractors still depend on the paper FP34C submission document.
Pharmacy contractors will no longer need to print and submit a paper copy of their completed FP34C declaration made through the Manage Your Service (MYS)
portal when submitting their paper prescription bundle to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), said the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC).
Instead, from August 2022 (for July 2022 prescriptions), NHSBSA will post out a paper Account Identifier Document along with the red separators and pharmacy address
labels each month.
"The Account Identifier Document should be placed alongside the paper prescription bundle before it is dispatched for payment to the relevant pricing division of
NHSBSA," said PSNC.
With the help of Account Identifier Document, NHSBSA will be able to easily identify the pharmacy that has submitted the prescription bundle, which will help to
speed up prescription processing.
"If the Account Identifier Document is lost or misplaced, contractors will still be able to download and print another copy from MYS. The July 2022 Drug Tariff
will be updated to reflect this change."
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has urged pharmacy contractors to use Manage Your Service (MYS) portal only for all monthly FP34C
submissions.
To secure access to earlier advance payments on 11 April 2022, the committee has advised pharmacy contractors to submit their claims for NHS pharmaceutical services
delivered in March 2022 no later than 5 April 2022.
PSNC said: "The Manage Your Service (MYS) portal is now the ONLY route available to contractors for all monthly FP34C submissions. From March 2022, contractors will
no longer receive the paper FP34C submission document through the post. However, the NHSBSA will continue to post out red separators for contractors to submit
relevant forms each month.
More than 10,000 pharmacy contractors those have declared their March FP34C submission figures through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal by 5 April will
receive earlier advance payments on Monday 11 April, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) announced.
Around 10,700 pharmacy contractors have made their submissions through MYS portal. They will receive their advance payments some 20 days earlier than the normal
payment timetable.
However, due to late submission (after April 5), over 500 contractors will not receive any earlier advance payments in April. These contractors will receive their advance payments on 1 May, in accordance with the normal payment timetable.
From this month, MYS is the only route available to contractors for all monthly FP34C submissions.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) reminded contractors that from this month (for prescriptions dispensed in March), the NHSBSA may apply an administrative deduction of £25 if a prescription bundle is submitted late.
The Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP), for Estradot 50mcg patches will expire at 23.59pm on Friday 24 February 2023.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that sufficient stock of Estradot 50mcg patches are now available to meet normal demand.
"After 24th February, any prescriptions for Estradot 50mcg patches must be dispensed in accordance with the prescription, and SSP048 will no longer be valid for
use," said DHSC.
Top tips for SSP claims by PSNC:
Where available, use the claim amend facility on the PMR system to rectify any incorrect EPS claims already submitted this month.
For any supplies made in accordance with SSPs, check that the correct number of patient charges are collected and declared on the end of month FP34C submission.
NHSBSA advise that contractors must follow the specific endorsement guidance issued with each SSP and endorsements should be clear and unambiguous - NHSBSA
processing staff must be able to determine what has been supplied. NHSBSA have published information on common SSP endorsing errors they see when processing claims.
A community pharmacy contractor would be charged £25 if a paper prescription bundle is submitted late to the NHSBSA.
"A charge for processing of a late bundle would only apply if a contractor cannot provide evidence, where requested by the NHSBSA, that their bundle was submitted
using secure track and trace delivery no later than the 5th day of the following month in which supply was made," said the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating
Committee (PSNC).
"Where evidence is submitted, no administrative deduction will be made. If no evidence is provided within the required time, then an administrative deduction will
be made from the next Schedule of Payments. The deduction which will appear on schedules as 'Late Fee' under the section "Details of other amounts authorised"."
Since the introduction of an administrative charge for late bundle submissions, 16 contractors received a fine for submitting their March prescription bundles late.