April 9th 2024

By Ailsa Colquhoun

Cefuroxime 5% eye drops preservative free out of pocket expense

From 1 March 2024, an additional fixed out-of-pocket expense payment of £50 will be automatically applied to NHS prescriptions for Cefuroxime 5% eye drops preservative free (a non-Drug Tariff special).

The payment was negotiated by Community Pharmacy England due to the unique temperature-controlled transport and storage requirements of this item.  

No additional endorsements are required to claim this fixed £50 out-of-pocket expense payment. This applicable fees such as the £20 fixed fee specials handling fee (claimed by endorsing ‘XP’) will continue to be paid in addition to the reimbursement based on the invoice price endorsement and the additional out-of-pocket expense payment.

This additional £50 payment will only apply to NHS prescriptions for Cefuroxime 5% eye drops preservative free.

The £50 out-of-pocket expense payment will also be backdated to cover prescriptions submitted as dispensed between April 2023 and February 2024. NHSBSA expect to make this adjustment in May 2024 which will be displayed under the fees and drugs section of the Schedule of Payments.  

Further information is available in Part II Clause 12 of the Drug Tariff