The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024
Overview
The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 (the Regulations) were enacted on November 1, 2024, to amend the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2016 (the 2016 Regulations). The Regulations introduce several changes to the charging regime for National Health Service (NHS) drugs and appliances in England.
Key Provisions
The key provisions of the Regulations include:
- Abolition of prescription charges for contraception: The prescription charge for contraception, which was previously £9.35 per item, has been abolished. This change is intended to improve access to contraception and support efforts to reduce teenage pregnancies and unplanned births.
- Reduction of prescription charges for non-exempt patients: The prescription charge for non-exempt patients has been reduced from £9.35 to £7.20 per item. This change is intended to provide financial relief to patients who must pay for their prescriptions.
- Extension of the prepayment certificate scheme: The prepayment certificate (PPC) scheme, which allows patients to pay a fixed annual fee to cover the cost of their prescriptions, has been extended. The new PPC fees are:
- 3-month PPC: £30.25 (reduced from £34.40)
- 12-month PPC: £108.10 (reduced from £132.60)
- Clarification of the definition of “appliances”: The definition of “appliances” in the 2016 Regulations has been clarified to include certain medical devices, such as hearing aids and wheelchairs. This change ensures that these devices are subject to the same charging rules as other NHS appliances.
Other Changes
In addition to the key provisions mentioned above, the Regulations also make a number of other changes, including:
- Clarification of the charging rules for patients receiving care in Scotland and Wales: The Regulations clarify that patients who are resident in Scotland or Wales and receive NHS care in England will be exempt from prescription charges.
- Extension of the temporary exemption for certain cancer treatments: The temporary exemption for cancer treatments that was introduced in 2021 has been extended until April 1, 2025.
Conclusion
The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024 introduce a number of changes to the charging regime for NHS drugs and appliances in England. These changes are intended to improve access to healthcare, provide financial relief to patients, and clarify the charging rules for certain medical devices.
The National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024
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