This is the text extract for Proposal to amend the rules relating to Discretionary Community Supply; Closing Date: Closed; Contact: Sean Dougherty, browse documents here.

13 October 2011

Proposal to amend the rules relating to Discretionary Community Supply

PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to widen the circumstances under which DHB hospitals can provide non-DCS Pharmaceuticals to patients for use in the community without requiring prior approval. Feedback sought PHARMAC welcomes feedback on this proposal. To provide feedback, please submit it in writing by Friday, 28 October 2011 to: Sean Dougherty Funding Systems Development Manager PHARMAC PO Box 10 254 Wellington 6143 Email: sean.dougherty@pharmac.govt.nz Fax: 04 460 4995

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by PHARMAC’s Board (or Chief Executive acting under delegated authority) prior to making a decision on this proposal. Details of the proposal PHARMAC proposes to make the following changes to rule 7 of Part I (General Rules for Hospital Pharmaceuticals) of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 December 2011 (changes in bold):

7 7.5 Discretionary Community Supply Pharmaceuticals Subject to rules 7.6 and 7.7, DHB Hospitals must not fund for use in the community, any pharmaceuticals that are not Discretionary Community Supply Pharmaceuticals unless they have been approved under Hospital Exceptional Circumstances. DHB Hospitals may fund from their own budgets, any Pharmaceutical that is listed in Sections A-G of the Pharmaceutical Schedule without Hospital Exceptional Circumstances (HEC) approval provided that: a) the quantity supplied does not exceed that sufficient for: i) ii) up to 5 days treatment, or one original pack (where appropriate to provide less); or more than 5 days treatment, provided that the relevant DHB Hospital has a dispensing for discharge policy and the quantity supplied is in accordance with that policy; and

7.6

b) the Pharmaceutical is supplied consistent with any restrictions applying to that Pharmaceutical in Sections A-G of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. 7.7 DHB Hospitals may fund from their own budgets any Pharmaceutical without Hospital Exceptional Circumstances approval provided that the Pharmaceutical is only being supplied to the patient for them to use in the 24 hours leading up to a procedure to be performed in a DHB Hospital.

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Background In advance of many hospital procedures (surgical interventions, diagnostic procedures, etc), patients will often be required to take certain pharmaceuticals in the hours before the procedure or sometimes the night before. These include bowel-cleansing preparations, contrast media and carbohydrate solutions. These are typically not considered to be community pharmaceuticals, but rather part of a hospital procedure; however the current Schedule rules do not accommodate this practice. We consider that it is appropriate to change the Schedule Rules to accommodate such activity, as enabling patients to be provided with these pharmaceuticals in advance is convenient for patients.

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