Dear Member,

The NHSBSA has announced significant changes to Category M drug prices effective from October 2023. These changes primarily result in a reduction in prices, with an average decrease of approximately 6% per drug item. It's important to note that the extent of these price reductions varies significantly depending on the specific drug.

The primary reason for these changes is the fluctuation in drug prices, in particular Apixaban tablets experiencing a significant price drop. This decline has occurred since Apixaban tablets has come off patent and the generic versions are much cheaper than the DT price.

Also contributing to the drop is the final phasing out of the extra £100m margin allowance that was agreed as a temporary funding settlement and a downward adjustment to bring the baseline back the DHSC’s margin targets.

Financial Impact:
An average pharmacy is expected to experience a monthly loss of approximately £600. Larger pharmacies, on the other hand, could face double the loss.

Actions To Consider:

1).  Please refer to the attached list detailing the top 20 drug price changes, both increases and decreases, by percentage and value.
2).  We strongly recommend processing all prescriptions, if feasible, before the end of September.
3).  This ensures that prescriptions dispensed in September will be reimbursed at the higher September prices.
4).  It's important to note that our calculations have factored in concessionary prices based on the latest available data as of September 27, However, we encourage you to conduct your own individual analysis of the impact of concession prices.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us on info@pharmaplusltd.co.uk if you require any further assistance or clarification regarding these changes.

Regards,

PharmaPlus