Over half of all pharmacies benefit from new earlier advance payment timetable

Over 6,000 pharmacy contractors who declared their October 2021 FP34C submission figures through the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal by 5th November will have received earlier advance payments on 11th November (circa 20 days earlier than the normal advance payment timetable). All contractors who received earlier advance payments on 11th November should receive a letter from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) regarding these payments.

Contractors who submitted their October FP34C through MYS late (after 5th November) or used the revised paper FP34C submission document to declare their October figures will receive their advance payments in accordance with the normal payment timetable i.e. on 1st December 2021. Note: In total, NHSBSA received 8309 FP34C submissions through MYS by 5th November and of these c.2000 were from PEPS contractors who received their final PEPS payment on the 1 October 2021. This leaves approximately 3,000 contractors who may be using paper FP34C’s or submitting through MYS after the 5th.

To benefit from earlier advance payments, contractors still relying on the paper FP34C submission document are strongly encouraged to submit their monthly declaration through the MYS portal by the 5th of the month following that in which supply was made. The paper FP34C submission document will only be available until March 2022 (i.e. for prescriptions dispensed in February 2022). From April 2022 (i.e. for prescriptions dispensed in March 2022) MYS will be the only route for all monthly submissions. To benefit from the earlier advance payments, contractors are strongly encouraged to start using the MYS portal to make their declarations.

If the FP34C submission document and prescription bundle is received very late by the NHSBSA (usually after the 20th of each month), contractors will not receive any advance payment but instead will only receive the final reconciliation payment. The FP34C submission cut-off dates for normal advance payments are published on the NHSBSA’s website.

Contractors should note that the final reconciliation payment date remains unchanged i.e. this will continue to be paid on the 1st working day of the month approximately two months after contractors have submitted the appropriate FP34C form and prescriptions for pricing.

Further details on the new payment arrangements for contractors are outlined in this PSNC Briefing.

Pharmacy contractors can also view an on-demand version of a webinar presented on the changes to advance payments and FP34C submission requirements.

For any queries regarding payments please contact contractorpayments@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.