The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that sufficient stock of Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets is now available to meet normal demand.
Therefore, the Serious Shortage Protocol, SSP032 Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets expired at 23.59pm on Friday (9 September).
“After this date, any prescriptions for Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets must be dispensed in accordance with the prescription, and the SSP032 will no longer be valid for use,” said DHSC.
Top tips for contractors for SSP claims:
- Where available, use the claim amend facility on the PMR system to rectify any incorrect EPS claims already submitted this month.
- For any supplies made in accordance with SSPs, check that the correct number of patient charges are collected and declared on the end of month FP34C submission.
- NHSBSA advise that contractors must follow the specific endorsement guidance issued with each SSP and endorsements should be clear and unambiguous – NHSBSA processing staff must be able to determine what has been supplied. NHSBSA have published information on common SSP endorsing errors they see when processing claims.
- Any paper prescriptions with SSP claims need to be placed in the red separator provided by the NHSBSA.
- Although an SSP cannot be used outside its period of validity, claims can be submitted up to three calendar months after expiry or withdrawal of the SSP to help manage any owings for other items issued on the same prescription form. For example, for SSP032 Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets, which expires at 23.59pm on Friday 9 September 2022, the NHSBSA would continue to look for the “SSP” endorsement on prescriptions for Lipitor 10mg chewable tablets that are submitted with the September batch (submitted by 5 October), October batch (submitted by 5 November) and November batch (submitted by 5 December).
- Pharmacy contractors should declare the number of SSP claims submitted each month to reconcile against their monthly Schedule of Payments or Prescription Item (PIR) reports.
- View SSP submission guidance to ensure your SSP claims are appropriately submitted to NHSBSA for reimbursement.
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre