Libre prescription under review -who responsible?

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Lucyr said:
If you aren’t able to google yourself then here’s some I googled for you

News & Views | Diabetes UK

www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Patients face 'unfair' fines on free prescriptions

Patients with life-long conditions are being fined up to £100 for taking their free prescriptions, the BBC has discovered.
www.bbc.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk

Prescription fraud clampdown plan heavily criticised

Pharmacists strongly criticised plans to strengthen checks at the counter for entitlement to free prescriptions in England.
www.bbc.co.uk

Patients face “unfair” fines on free prescriptions - DiabetesontheNet

Increasing numbers of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes are being fined by the NHS for claiming free prescriptions because they do not have the
diabetesonthenet.com diabetesonthenet.com
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Oh, I can google. ; ) I just wanted to see what evidence you were relying on. If it had been good up-to-date evidence, I would of course have accepted it.

But-- all your links are from December 2014 to February 2015. It is always important to check the dates on things you read on the internet, as the information may be misleadingly out of date.

Here's a gold-standard source from January 2022, https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7227/CBP-7227.pdf . This is an official House of Commons Research Briefing-- meaning it was produced by House of Commons researchers to inform MPs of what the current law and practice is-- on NHS charges, including prescription charges:

"A new process was introduced in 2015 whereby if a patient submits a valid application for a medical or maternity exemption certificate within 60 days from the date of the penalty charge notice, the outstanding penalty change is cancelled, but the prescription charge will still be recovered." (p 15)

So it seems the policymakers thought the same way as I do-- the same way any reasonable person would: it would be ridiculous to penalise people who are definitely entitled to free prescriptions, simply because they haven't got the certificate they are entitled to! Or at least it would be ridiculous to penalise them any more than the cost of one prescription.

It may be rare for policymakers to be reasonable, but at least this time they got it right! Doubtless the outcry in late 2014-early 2015, indicated by your links, made them decide to do the right thing.

There is still the matter of whether the pharmacy could be penalised, though; and, as above, that tips the balance for me.
 
Spathiphyllum said:
Oh, I can google. ; ) I just wanted to see what evidence you were relying on. If it had been good up-to-date evidence, I would of course have accepted it.

But-- all your links are from December 2014 to February 2015. It is always important to check the dates on things you read on the internet, as the information may be misleadingly out of date.

Here's a gold-standard source from January 2022, https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7227/CBP-7227.pdf . This is an official House of Commons Research Briefing-- meaning it was produced by House of Commons researchers to inform MPs of what the current law and practice is-- on NHS charges, including prescription charges:

"A new process was introduced in 2015 whereby if a patient submits a valid application for a medical or maternity exemption certificate within 60 days from the date of the penalty charge notice, the outstanding penalty change is cancelled, but the prescription charge will still be recovered." (p 15)

So it seems the policymakers thought the same way as I do-- the same way any reasonable person would: it would be ridiculous to penalise people who are definitely entitled to free prescriptions, simply because they haven't got the certificate they are entitled to! Or at least it would be ridiculous to penalise them any more than the cost of one prescription.

It may be rare for policymakers to be reasonable, but at least this time they got it right! Doubtless the outcry in late 2014-early 2015, indicated by your links, made them decide to do the right thing.

There is still the matter of whether the pharmacy could be penalised, though; and, as above, that tips the balance for me.
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All that does is prove that you still need to get a medical exemption. You will still receive a fine for not having one. If you are this argumentative about not getting a medical exemption with them when you receive the fine then you’ll have to pay it.
 
Tdm said:
My medication is reviewed by my specialist diabetes team. I don't know why my gp should be involved. They don't manage t1.

I am exceeding my a1c target and have an a1c that isn't even diabetic so
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trophywench said:
Please don't continue without an actual medex. If some audit body happens to do a spot check of your pharmacy and picks on one of your prescriptions - the pharmacy will be in trouble and will at the very least be fined, at worst, could be struck off. It's not all about you!
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Don't worry, the pharmacy will be fine. Its the patients responsibilty to check exemptions, not the pharmacist. The pharmacy are not allowed to refuse to dispense a px for free, it is in their guidelines.
 
Some pharmacys do check, cos some patients will hold them accountable if they get a fine, but if you say you have an exemption, they have to give it to you for free.

The condition entitles you to the medical ex cert. The cert entitles you to free px.

Fines will be waived if you sucessfully apply for a medex AND you pay the px charge within 28 days. Otherwise, the fine will remain.
 
helli said:
Whilst I was checking up on the medical exemption certificate, I found this handy page which may be useful for people (maybe like me) who haven't seen their medical exemption certificate for a while and are worried it may have expired.
Check if you have an exemption from paying NHS costs
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By the by, you need to let nhsbsa know of any changes to address.

You will get a reminder to renew in the post a month before it expires.

If you don't update address they won't be able to find your exemption and you may get penalty charge letter to the address on px - in which case tell them your old address, they will update and all will be well. Similarly with changes of name.

They will send a new plastic card out free on request if lost etc
 
I have previously been sent a fine because the pharmacy had ticked the wrong exemption box. I made very sure when my eldest turned 16 that the pharmacy updated the exemption from "under 16" to "16-19 and in full time education" to avoid that situation happening again
 
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