Drug Tariff News

5th February 2024 - Source: Amanda Chell

January Drug Tariff News

 January Category M announced

13 products more than doubled in price

NHS BSA has announced the January 2024 (Q4) Category M adjustment.

In summary there are:

Six additions

  • Clobazam 10mg tablets x30: £4.14
  • Colesevelam 625mg tablets x180: £70.56
  • Fluoxetine 40mg capsules x30: £2.17
  • Metformin 1g / Sitagliptin 50mg tablets x56: £15.40
  • Nifedipine 5mg capsules x90: £45.89
  • Venlafaxine 75mg modified-release capsules x28: £2.82

Six deletions

Beclometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray 200
Hydrocortisone 1% cream 15
Hydrocortisone 1% cream 30
Hydrocortisone 1% cream 50
Sodium valproate 200mg gastro-resistant tablets 100
Sodium valproate 500mg gastro-resistant tablets 100

 

There are 207 products up in price, including 13 products which have more than doubled in price.

There are 424 products down in price, including seven products, the price of which has fallen by at least 50 per cent.

There will be an overall reduction to reimbursement of approximately £35m per quarter on like-for-like Category M lines.

  • The effect of new entrants to Category M will be a reduction to reimbursement of approximately £3m per quarter.
  • Therefore the overall impact of the new Category M list will be a reimbursement reduction of approximately £38m per quarter, equivalent to a reduction in AIV of around -14p per item.
  • This indicative modelling uses the latest pharmacy dispensing volumes available to Community Pharmacy England as a proxy for the expected dispensing volumes in quarter Jan-Mar 24. The actual impact of the changes in the quarter will be subject to variation based on actual volumes observed.

Following the adjustment, Category M remains unchanged in number at 661 lines.

Reference DDA website

Additions to Part 2

Only 1 item has been added to Part 2 of the January Drug Tariff and that item is the Freestyle Libre Sensor 3.

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

22 items have been added to Part 8a of the January Drug Tariff. Ones which I think you will find of interest are:

  • Benzydamine 0.30% oromucosal spray sugar free, 15ml has gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Zentiva Pharma UK Ltd. Currently only AAH seems to be holding any stock.
  • Co-codamol 15mg/500mg effervescent tablets sugar free and 30mg/500mg effervescent tablets sugar free have both been added to the January Drug Tariff, pack size 100. Both items have gone in as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Accord UK Ltd.
  • Rosuvastatin 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg capsules have all gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Europe B.V. Please take caution when purchasing as some generic prices are over Drug Tariff.

Deletions to Part 8a

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

  • Alprostadil 40microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection vials has been deleted from the January Drug Tariff. This is more commonly known as Caverject. This product was discontinued in July 2023
  • Hyoscine hydrobromide 150microgram chewable tablets sugar free, more commonly known as Joy-rides has been deleted from the January Drug Tariff. Again, this was discontinued in July 23
  • Testosterone 50mg/5g transdermal gel unit dose sachets has been removed from the January Drug Tariff. Branded name is Testogel. Testogel was discontinued In November 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

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

  • Colesevelam 625mg tablets, 180 tablets has moved from a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Cholestagel to a Category M item. The reimbursement price has dropped from £115.32 to £70.56.
  • Febuxostat 120mg tablets has moved from a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Adenuric to a Category M item. The reimbursement price has dropped from £24.36 to £21.25.
  • Metformin 1g / Sitagliptin 50mg tablets has moved from a Category C item to a Category M item. Previously the reimbursement price was based on Janumet with a reimbursement of £33.26. The reimbursement price has now dropped to £15.40.
  • Venlafaxine 75mg modified-release capsules was sitting as a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Vensir XL. Has now moved to a Category M item and the reimbursement price has dropped to £2.82

 

 

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