Reimbursement of additional costs related to COVID-19
PSNC has accepted an offer from DHSC that allows NHS pharmacy contractors in England to claim for additional costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic for the provision of NHS pharmaceutical services over a 13-month period from 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2021.
All claims must be submitted to the NHSBSA between 5 July and 15 August 2021 by completing and returning the claim form to [email protected].
The claim form provided by the NHSBSA can be accessed here: bit.ly/2Uv6NaK
Here is a summary of what can and cannot be claimed:
Categories of additional costs related to COVID-19
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Category |
What CAN be claimed? |
What CANNOT be claimed? |
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1. Additional staff costs due to COVID-19
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· Additional staff costs for backfilling staff that were ill, shielding or self-isolating due to COVID-19 · Additional staff costs to deal with the increased demand in/ time needed for the provision of NHS pharmaceutical services
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· Additional staff costs to cover non- COVID-19 related absences · Staff costs related to deferred annual leave · Staff costs for Bank Holiday openings (as additional funding was received for these) |
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2. Costs to make the pharmacy COVID-19 secure
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· Costs for COVID-19 related cleaning/hygiene products · Costs for messaging and barriers · Costs exceeding £300 for adjusting premises to support social distancing |
· PPE and hand sanitiser (as this has been funded separately) · Costs up to £300 for making premises COVID-secure (as this funding was provided) |
|
3. IT and communication costs incurred to support remote working and virtual patient contact |
· Hardware costs (e.g. phones, laptops, webcams) · Software costs (e.g. software licences)
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|
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4. Closures agreed by NHS England and NHS Improvement (maximum of 14 days) |
· Notified closures for infection control purposes where all staff had to self-isolate · Notified closures for infection control purposes of pharmacies in health centres
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· Closures not notified to NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) · Closures not for the purpose of infections control · Closures for business reasons · Closures exceeding 14 days |
For full details, click here.
Important dates
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Sunday 1 March 2020 to Wednesday 31 March 2021 |
13-month period for which claims may be submitted to recover COVID-19 related costs incurred |
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From Monday 5 July 2021 |
Claims must be made by downloading and completing a claim form on the NHSBSA website |
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Monday 5 July 2021 -> up to 23:59 on Sunday 15 August 2021 |
Submission window |
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Friday 1 October 2021 |
Pharmacy contractors will receive payment if the claim has been submitted within the submission window |
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Tuesday 1 November 2022 |
Appeals process open until this date |
For further information go to the NPA website.
Temporary suspension for the requirement to sign the reverse of NHS prescriptions and EPS token submission changes
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, to minimise the spread of infection, from 1 November 2020, the requirement for patients/representatives to sign the reverse of NHS prescription forms or Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) tokens was suspended. This suspension will be in place until 31 August 2021 (previously due to end 30 June 2021).
Key points for pharmacy teams:
- Where patients/representatives have not already completed the reverse of the NHS prescription/EPS token, confirm patient’s exemption or paying status and mark this on the NHS prescription/EPS token on their behalf – please note this is not required if
- Patient is exempt by age and the date of birth is printed on the prescription
- The item prescribed is free of charge by legislation
- Where a Real Time Exemption Check (RTEC) confirms the patient’s exemption status
For further information go to the NPA website.