CIP Overview

NHS Prescription Services have introduced new technology, increasing the level of automation in the pricing system. The new process, commonly referred to as the Capacity Improvement Programme (CIP) forms part of NHS plans to efficiently manage payments to contractors as the number of NHS prescriptions issued grows ever higher. The new system also delivers the functionality to pay contractors for prescriptions dispensed within the Electronic Prescription Service.

The CIP system uses high-speed scanning equipment and intelligent character recognition software to support the capture of printed information from prescription forms. This supplements the input of information manually by NHS Prescription Services operators and once information is captured it is processed by an automated ‘rules engine' to determine the payment due to contractors. The new technology ensures the capacity of NHS Prescription Services to price contractor's prescriptions quickly and accurately.

A summary of the key steps in the pricing process are outlined below:

Batch Preparation

Bundles received by NHS Prescription Services must first be prepared for the scanning process. The FP34C submission document outlines the sorting requirements. NHS Prescription Services will be issuing clearer instructions shortly on the reverse of FP34C to clarify sorting instructions.

Prescriptions should be sorted into four bundles:

exempt prescriptions
chargeable prescriptions
exempt prescriptions with broken bulk claims and calendar pack items where the quantity dispensed differs from the pack size (or sub-pack size)
chargeable prescriptions with broken bulk claims and calendar pack items where the quantity dispensed differs from the pack size (or sub-pack size)

The general exempt and chargeable prescriptions should be arranged alphabetically in order of prescriber. There is no need to separate each prescriber with elastic band, bags or paper bands. There is no need to sort the separated broken bulk and calendar pack prescriptions in prescriber order. See the PSNC Sorting Tips for more information, available at www.psnc.org.uk/cip

Once a bundle is received, NHS Prescription Services staff must make sure all clips, staples and sticky labels have been removed as they can jam or damage the scanning equipment. NHS Prescription Services use a special pen to mark all prescriptions with broken bulk or split calendar pack claims where these have been separated by the contractor. When the form has been marked by staff, the scanner identifies that there has been an item but knows to refer it to a human exception handler to key in manually.

Prescription Information Data Capture

The scanning system is only used to support the capture of data from the prescription, for example the prescriber ID, prescription form type and details of the prescribed items. If the scanning process cannot determine this information with confidence, for example if the prescription is handwritten, then the prescription will be referred to a Type 1 Exception Handler who will enter the prescription details manually.

Switching

At this stage if the system flags that a prescription may have been submitted in the incorrect charge group, it will be referred to a Type 1 Exception Handler for verification of whether the form was in fact submitted incorrectly or not. If it was submitted incorrectly then it will be switched. No forms are switched automatically by the system; they are only switched once verified by a trained member of staff. Further guidance on switching is available on the main prescription switching page.

Exception Process

Prescriptions which cannot be priced automatically using the system will be sent for manual checking by a Type 2 Exception Handler. They will manually capture dispensing endorsements where these are required for NHS Prescription Services to price the prescription. For example, if a product has been granted the NCSO Concession, all prescriptions received for that product will be filtered by the system to a Type 2 Exception Handler so that the endorsement information can be manually input into the system.

Type 2 Exception Handlers also input information linked to the broken bulk concession, calendar packs where the exact quantity has been dispensed and this is different from the nearest pack or sub-pack, FP10MDA Instalment Dispensing prescriptions, prescriptions for products with multiple pack sizes where the pack size is required to price the prescriptions and prescriptions where a particular fee is being claimed for example for ‘measuring and fitting' hosiery and more.

At this stage, items which still cannot be priced due to a lack of information must be referred back to the contractor for clarification. Payment will only be delayed for the item for which the clarification is required, and not for any other items which appear on the same prescription form.

Payment Calculation

Once the data on the prescription forms has been confirmed, they will be processed automatically via an inbuilt ‘rules engine'. This system will automatically apply the Drug Tariff rules for the month for which the prescriptions were submitted.

The total payment due for items dispensed will be calculated from the automatically captured data and the manually captured data. Any final adjustments are made and the contractor's final payment is calculated.

Customer Support

NHS Prescription Services have established a centralised customer support office at their Newcastle processing site who are responsible for answering a range of queries, such as payment issues, whether a product is allowed on prescription and more. They can also escalate queries onto specialised departments within NHS Prescription Services if it is required. The helpdesk can be contacted on 0845 610 1171

Support is also available from the PSNC Information Team on 01296 432823.

Watch the Video

NHS Prescription Services have worked with PSNC to publish a new video guide to the new processing technology. The video takes contractors through the pricing process, from the receipt of prescription batches at NHS Prescription Services, to batch preparation, scanning, and the data capture mechanism. The video also explains the exception process, whereby staff manually capture information from dispensing endorsements. The guide can be viewed online on the PSNC website or on the NHS Prescription Services site.

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