donnellysdogs
Master
Agreed...
The system is a complete farce @zand.
I am going to upset quite a few people here, but have to say those of us with diabetes medication are in a better position over free medication than those with some other chronic lifelong medical needs. Until recently people needing cancer drugs were not exempt. I also have several other lifelong medical conditions that do not qualify for free prescriptions, so before I had medication for diabetes I bought NHS pre-payment certificates on an annual basis. If I hadn't I would have needed a second mortgage to pay for my prescriptions. I have heard people ask "what is so special about diabetics that they should get free prescription meds when other conditions don't?" Not a view I subscribe to, but do have some sympathy for others who need a lot of medication and have to pay.
I liked this post a great deal. My only addition is that it is a shame there is no appeal process with the automated letter.As a former HCP, I feel that I need to comment on some postings in this thread :
First of all, no HCP is infallible. We all make mistakes because we are human. Also, no matter what our personal beliefs are, there is a " party line " that has to be followed . And that party line seems to change like the wind? Sometimes the advice given is outdated compared with other countries, and sometimes it's because we haven't been given the memo Incidentally, I must have missed the memo that said all HCP's over the age of 45 are now exempt from Continuing Education
Those memos are the bane of most Hp's lives, as often the information hidden in the great drift do not filter down to the troops on the ground. For example, these MEDEX forms. DSN's are as their title suggests, Diabetic SPECIALIST nurses. They are far more likely to be informed of beurocratic changes in regard to their speciality than a DN who is usually a practice nurse who runs the diabetic clinic at the local Health Centre as well as other clinics. The advice they give is only as good as the advice and information that they are given. You are more likely to be told about obtaining an exemption certificate from a DSN than a DN or GP because the latter are looking and concentrating on a much broader picture.
It used to be that prescriptions were rarely checked or randomly checked by the receiving prescription payment department, thus allowing many fraudulent claims to go through. This has tightened up considerably and is computer checked. Your number is cross checked with the database of who has claimed and received a MEDEX, and if there is no match, out goes the letter . The computer doesn't recognise that a person is diabetic because of insulin, needles, test strips etc, it goes by numbers. It doesn't recognise that a person SHOULD be exempt for whatever reason, so therefore doesn't send out an alternative letter with a gentle reminder that you should get a certificate. Sadly.
It would seem that many HCP's have not been informed about ensuring that those patients who are exempt obtain a certificate, and many more still are unfamiliar with the exemption process, wrongly assuming lol along that the exemption would be picked up on by the pricing authority. It wasn't, and now, never is unless you apply for a valid certificate and thus have the all important cross match on the database.
Yes, it's been handled badly, and sadly that is not unusual.
Signy
I do actually agree about asthma and MS! they should be free too
Hi,
I'm another "offender" in the eyes of the NHS BSA for a prescription submitted on the 28th August. According to the letter I didn't pay for a prescription when I had no exception certificate in place and therefore now owe
Prescription charge of £32.20
Penalty Charge of £100.00
Total £132.20 now due.
If I don't respond by 6th Jan the charge will increase by 50%!!
I am T1 diabetic and have been since 1991. Like others it never even crossed my mind that this life long medical condition would have a time limited exception in place.
In all these years since 1991 I have NEVER been asked for the certificate. NEVER. I think the assumption by Chemists is that having T1 you have an exemption in place.
It is a disgrace that I am being penalised when there is no mechanism in place to issue reminders. I have never been reminded that my exemption is due to expire.
In the eyes of the NHS BSA I am a fraudulent claimer and therefore must pay the charge and associated penalty, there is no appeal process. It's black and white, in their eyes I claimed a free prescription when I did not have an active exemption in place.
I have spoken to Diabetes UK Care line (lovely lady), and the Patients Association. It is something they are aware of, but at the moment there is no resolution. Basically watch the Diabetes UK home page for news.
If you are in this position please let these organisations know to bolster our case.
I have paid £1.00 to ensure that my penalty charge doesn't increase to £150 on the 6th Jan.
I have since filled in a form to have my exception put in place, but once I have this I can only claim back 30 days of fees. Annoyingly their fine is for a transaction outside of this period. I can only wonder whether this is a deliberate act.
I will be writing to my MP.
Thanks,
Mark
Thanks Tim - constructive and helpful.So, if you have a card and can't find it call 0845 601 8076 and they will send you a new one, as the nice lady on the phone did for me earlier.
they said all I had to do was "tick medical exemption and that's it".
That's how you order a repeat prescription, with just half the form. But when you fill the prescription you need the full form and you need to tick the box. No ticky no scrippy.Not necessarily Tim
I have my repeat prescription in front of me I don't get the full one for some reason just the half with the actual prescription on I post it in the box at the drs and two days later collect my meds from the chemist which admittedly is in the Drs I give them my name they give me a bag with my meds and another prescription in it and that's it I always offer my certificate but they say they don't need it as its on their system.
The half of the prescription I get doesn't have anything to sign or date or any check boxes.
I may enquire next time I'm in why I don't get the full document anymore.
As a former HCP
[...]
Yes, it's been handled badly, and sadly that is not unusual.
Signy
That's how you order a repeat prescription, with just half the form. But when you fill the prescription you need the full form and you need to tick the box. No ticky no scrippy.
That's how you order a repeat prescription, with just half the form. But when you fill the prescription you need the full form and you need to tick the box. No ticky no scrippy.
Until just recently, whenever I picked up my prescription from my pharmacy, my pharmacist signed on my behalf so all I had to do was just collect the items with the repeat form. It was only on my last prescription collection that the counter staff asked if I was exempt and could I sign the declaration. As far as I know my pharmacist is aware of my exemption card as my details are on the database.
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