Claiming for COVID-19 pharmacy contractor costs
The PSNC have accepted an offer from HM Government allowing pharmacy contractors in England to claim for their COVID-related costs.
The new agreement outlines:
- Removing the upper limit on the amount of claims HM Government will pay for (originally capped at £120 million);
- Contractors can claim for costs incurred in the period March 2020 to March 2021
- Contractors can claim for a wider range of costs, including non-staff costs which not covered in original agreement
- Multiple contractors can now make a single claim per business
Contractors are able to claim for these costs from the 5th July 2021 to 15th August 2021 and will receive payments on 1st October.
The DHSC has outlined the four categories for COVID- related costs which contractors are able to claim for:
- Additional staff costs due to COVID-19;
- Costs incurred to make premises COVID-19 secure;
- IT and communication costs to support home working and virtual patient contact, and
- Notified closures for infection control purposes (maximum 14 days)
Contractors will need to confirm that they have documentation as evidence for any claims that are made as the NHS BSA may ask to see it.
At the same time, DHSC will commence taking payments of the £370 million in Advance Payments received last year, so contractors should be prepared to make repayments from October, expected to be in six equal monthly payments.
For full details of the arrangement see:
Drug Tariff Part VIA – Covid-19 claims and recovery