The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has agreed to implement a range of retrospective price adjustments for medicines dispensed earlier this year, including a twofold increase in the reimbursement amounts for lurasidone packs dispensed in April.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) revealed yesterday that it had successfully appealed for a number of retrospective price adjustments “to avoid pharmacy owners dispensing these products at a loss”. 

Three strengths of generic and branded lurasidone tablets are among the products included in the readjustment. The DHSC has agreed to increase the reimbursement price for packs dispensed in April from £37.60 to £80.

This reflects the higher NHS list price for Latuda products that was introduced in May; according to CPE, “under the current price change mechanism the new list prices would only apply to reimbursement for NHS prescriptions dispensed from May 2024”. 

There will also be retrospective adjustments for five Aptamil products dispensed between January and April “due to out of date pricing information” on the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d). 

These include a £1.79 increase for 800g packs of Aptamil Anti-Reflux Powder and Comfort MIlk, from £14.29 to £16.08.

The adjustment for both Aptamil and lurasidone products will be made on August 30 when contractors are reimbursed for medicines dispensed in June. 

Finally, there will be an adjustment for six adrenaline auto-injectable products dispensed in July this year. For example, contractors will now be reimbursed £60.69 for single packs of EpiPen 300mcg solution and Jext 150mg solution, and not £53.80 as previously stated for both products in the July Drug Tariff.