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ITEM
1- Comes from Pharmacist Rod Willis in Queensland
Editor's Note:
While this predicament seems to currently affect Queensland Pharmacists
only, response from the wider community of pharmacists would be
appreciated. Who knows-you may be next in line for this treatment.
13
December 2002
Dear
Colleague
The
Executive Manager of the HIC in Queensland, Mr Mark Davis is at
present in the process of enforcing the old and conveniently forgotten
rule of allowing only one PBS claim per month unless meeting strict
criteria of large script volumes.
In
the past we had been asked and indeed encouraged by the HIC to
submit claims on a staggered basis in order to spread the workload
at the HIC (Poor dears)
More frequent claims (i.e. two claims per month) were verbally
agreed upon as a further means of spreading the workload at the
HIC, whilst at the same time giving a much better cash flow to
the Pharmacies that submitted claims more frequently then one
per month.
This latest enforcement of this ruling will affect the cash flow
of a great number of Pharmacies, with particular emphasis on our
Rural Pharmacists who are probably already experiencing difficulties
with cash flow with the present drought conditions affecting the
cash available for spending in their local community.
Pharmacy is at present already carrying for a longer period the
ever-increasing cost of Prescription drugs.
I am at present endeavouring to survey as many Pharmacists as
possible as to the effect this latest enforcement to an old ruling
by Mr Mark Davis of the HIC will have on their Business.
The survey will be collated and in conjunction with Mr James Delahunty
we would like to make a presentation on your behalf to the Guild
(Both State & Federal) and if needed, presented to the Federal
Minister for Health in Canberra.
We also have to be aware that at present the arrangements are
that the HIC will pay PBS claims between 12 to 17 days after lodgement
of claim. I think the average waiting period at present is 15
days. (Their statistics) When they have totally implemented this
one claim per month policy what will happen when the HIC is hit
with almost all Pharmacies submitting their claim in the first
week each month. Being only allowed one claim per month every
claim will be much larger than at present and all on their desk
at once. Will the HIC be able to handle this volume to ensure
Pharmacists receive payment within the prescribed time?
Would you please answer either:
A: Not Affected
B: Slightly Affected
C: Adversely Affected
D: Very Adversely Affected
To the question "Will the Viability of your Business be affected
by the
HIC enforcing the antiquated rule of "One claim lodged per
month"?"
Any
further comments you might wish to make are most welcome.
Please
email your reply to either willisr@ozemail.com.au
or
rodw@rwpharm.bu.aust.com
at your earliest convience.
If
you know of any colleague who does not receive this email could
you please print this and forward to them. They may post a reply
to me at
P.O.
Box 97
Samford Qld 4520.
The
more replies I receive the larger the survey and the more impact
it may have on the relevant bodies we present it to. We need this
to have the desired effect on the HIC to make them see the error
of this move and understand the severely detrimental affect it
will have on Pharmacies.
Regards
Rod
Willis
ITEM
2- Comes from an Internet/Mail Order Pharmacist in NSW
Editor's
Note: This item is quite disturbing.
If readers have any information that can assist this particular
pharmacist, then please e-mail the editor at neilj@computachem.com.au.
All information treated in strictest confidence.
To
preserve confidentiality, I am publishing only excerpts from an
e-mail recently received from a subscriber.
"I
have an issue that should be pursued.
It concerns privacy and the NSW Poisons Branch.
I
have had these people come into my pharmacy and demand customer
medication records which then disappear.
No receipt is given for these records.
I have demanded requests in writing, but they say they are exempt
from the Privacy Act.
I have asked them to show me the relevant legislation.
They refuse to put any of their requests in writing.
On the last visit they browbeat one of my pharmacists into providing
information amidst lots of threats, despite my specific instructions
that if they do not provide a written request, then they are not
entitled to any records.
I
have also heard that some compounding pharmacists have been harassed
by these people under similar circumstances."
i2P
would like to hear from anyone receiving similar treatment.
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