Drug Tariff News

3rd November 2023 - Source: Amanda Chell

October Drug Tariff News

The latest Category M adjustment (for October 2023) adds 10 items, bringing the total number of items in Category M to 661.

This adjustment reflects underlying market prices (between April – June 2023) and the result of the community pharmacy margin survey (latest result up until end of March 2023).

As well as the adjustments for market prices, medicine margin will be adjusted downwards by £21 million per quarter through Category M reimbursement prices.

The summary effect is that 161 lines are up in price, 14 by over 50 per cent and 473 prices are down in price, eight by over 50 per cent.

The new items are:

 

Product Pack size Reimbursement
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream 30g £1.71
Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream 100g £3.54
Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 3ml £4.08
Cabergoline 500microgram tablets 8 £17.69
Co-amilofruse 5mg/40mg tablets 28 £6.07
Dexamfetamine 5mg tablets 28 £14.80
Lorazepam 500microgram tablets 28 £19.48
Olopatadine 1mg/ml eye drops 5ml £3.61
Promethazine hydrochloride 10mg tablets 56 £13.55
Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets 200 £21.05

Reference DDA website

Additions to Part 2

There have been 9 additions to Part 2 in the October Drug Tariff- ones which I think you may find of interest are:

  • Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream
  • Levomepromazine hydrochloride 25mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
  • Politid XL 150mg capsules

Generally, items which fall into Part 2 of the Drug Tariff have no wholesaler discount, you are potentially dispensing at a loss. You may consider sending the prescription away to a local Pharmacy to be dispensed.

Additions to Part 8a

Only 3 items have been added to Part 8a of the October Drug Tariff, and these 3 are:

  • Levomepromazine hydrochloride 25mg/5ml oral solution sugar free, 100 ml has gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C item and the reimbursement price is based on Levorol. Levorol is currently only available through Alliance Healthcare.
  • Mefenamic acid 250mg tablets, pack size 28 has gone into the October Drug Tariff as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Dawa Ltd. Take care when ordering this one as some wholesalers are selling the item over tariff price.
  • * Vitamins capsules has gone into the Drug tariff, pack size 84, also as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Aa BPC Vitamin.

Deletions to Part 8a

6 items have been deleted from Part 8a of the October Drug Tariff- ones which I think you will find of interest are:

  • Felodipine 2.5mg modified-release / Ramipril 2.5mg tablets, more commonly known as Triapin has been removed from the October Drug. This item was discontinued in May 2023.
  • Fluticasone 2mg/2ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials- pack size 10. More commonly known as Flixiotide, again was discontinued in May 2023.
  • Glyceryl trinitrate 15mg/24hours transdermal patches- more commonly known as Minitran 15 has been removed from the October Drug Tariff – also again discontinued in May 2023.

Items which have been removed from the Drug Tariff part 8A can still be prescribed and dispensed but you will need to endorse the prescription with manufacturer, pack size and price paid.

Other Changes to Part 8a

38 items are listed in ‘Other Changes, ones which you may find of interest are:

  • Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream, 30g and 100g have both moved from a Category A item to a Category M and the reimbursement price has dropped. Please take care when ordering as stock levels are varying and price on some occasions is over tariff.
  • Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops has dropped from a Category C where the reimbursement price as based on Ganfort to a Category M. The reimbursement price is now sitting at £4.08. Again take care when purchasing as the generic is over tariff price.
  • Olopatadine 1mg/ml eye drops has moved from a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Opatanol, to a Category M. The reimbursement price has dropped from £4.68 to £3.61. This product can be purchased under tariff but you will have to shop around.

DDA would also like to remind everyone that Apixaban is now a Category M item and the reimbursement for both strengths has dropped significantly in the October Drug Tariff.

 

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