Twelve additional conditions have been added to the service, PSNC announced today (August 23), as it published the outcome of the negotiations on year three of the community pharmacy contractual framework.

The conditions previously covered by the service specification remain in place, the negotiator clarified, and an updated list of medicines that are suitable for and covered by the service will be published “shortly” by the NHS Business Services Authority.

The extra conditions that will be covered by the NMS are:

• Acute coronary syndrome
• Atrial fibrillation
• Coronary heart disease
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Gout
• Heart failure
• Hypercholesterolaemia
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Stroke/transient ischemic attack
• Urinary incontinence and retention.

Increase in cap on number of NMSs

Following the expansion of the service, the cap on the number of paid NMSs that contractors can complete will also increase from 0.5% to 1% “of monthly prescription volume” and “additional bandings will also be included”, PSNC added.

Meanwhile, the maximum remuneration for the service remains at £28 per completed NMS.

As C+D previously reported, the eligibility criteria for the NMS are being widened to allow carers of patients and the parents or guardians of children to benefit from the service where the person they look after is not able to provide consent themselves.

Catch-up NMS temporarily available

Patients who were prescribed a new medicine during the pandemic, but who could not receive NMS support at the time, will be able to access a catch-up NMS.

“To further support patients as part of the NHS COVID-19 recovery plan, the temporary introduction of catch-up NMS has been agreed,” PSNC said.

“Further details on the requirements will shortly be published in an updated service specification,” it added.