PCA(P)(2024)23 - Drug Tariff Part 7 Dispensing Pool Payment and Redistribution of the Global Sum

Published: 13/09/20

Introduction

This circular advises of changes to the Drug Tariff with respect to remuneration arrangements for the dispensing pool month of July (paid September) 2024 and to the reclaim of a historic overpayment in the Global Sum made May (paid July) 2024.

This temporary payment adjustment is required to regulate the delivery of the remuneration Global Sum for the last financial year 2023/24.

Detail

A change to the Drug Tariff in respect of the month of July (paid September) 2024 will be made via a dispensing pool balancing payment.

An adjusted dispensing pool balancing payment is introduced for the dispensing month of July (paid September) 2024 only. The payment to each eligible contractor is calculated as a proportionate share of £1,690,000. This will be paid as ‘DP_Balance’ adjustment in July (paid September) 2024 payment schedules.

Eligibility for the dispensing payment is that a contractor must be on the pharmaceutical list on 1 April 2024 or a new contractor who joins the pharmaceutical list after 1 April 2024 will be eligible. Where a contractor acquires an established pharmacy after the 1 April 2024, the new contractor will inherit the payment of the original contractor.

Due to a historic overpayment of Medicines: Care and Review remuneration between October 2022 and March 2024 to the value of £1,230,546, corrective adjustments were processed in the July 2024 schedule. This makes up part of the above payment. And these actions are being taken to ensure accurate and proper delivery of the Global Sum for 2023/24.