Those British really think THEY are having problems with expensive Rx! Oh, really!
From John Curry, May 8, 2008
Subject: Those British really think THEY are having problems with expensive Rx! Oh, really!
The article below was taken from a British website and relates to the perceived problem(?) they think they have with the high prices of prescription drugs!!!!!
We (U.S. Citizens) should be so lucky!
Before we get to the actual pricing you have to remember that in England...some folks don't have to pay "anything" for their Rx when they walk into the drugstore thanks to this governmental program of Rx bidding, purchase, and distribution. So, who doesn't have to pay for Rx in England? Well, here's a list of those persons who are exempt. Note, I will put in U.S. currency equivalents where they use the English unit of money. By the way, a 30, 60, or 90 day Rx (penicillin or cancer drugs and Rx in between) is still the same price or..... $13.40 !!!!
March 2007
The following categories of people are entitled to exemption from NHS prescription charges:
- Men and women aged 60 and over;
- Children under 16;
- Young people in full-time education aged 16, 17 and 18;
- Pregnant women and women who have had a child in the previous 12 months who hold a valid exemption certificate;
- People who hold a valid exemption certificate for a War disablement pension but only in respect of medication for the disablement;
- People suffering from the following conditions who hold a valid exemption certificate:
forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential;
diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism;
diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet alone);
hypoparathyroidism;
myasthenia gravis;
myxoedema;
epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person. - A person or partner receiving Income support; Pension Credit guarantee credit; or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Tax credit where income is £15,050 [$29,443 U.S.] per year or less and meeting qualifying conditions
March 2007
(This briefing paper applies to England)
The prescription charge system is outdated and the BMA has long called on the Government to initiate a fundamental review of the whole system of prescription charges and exemption categories. In 2006 the Government announced a review of prescription charges which will report by July 2007.
There are many unacceptable inequities and anomalies in the present system. Although around four out of five prescriptions are exempt (see below for list of exempt categories), the price of a prescription (£6.85 [$13.40 U.S. dollars] from 1 April 2007) often hits those who cannot afford such charges. There are many people with chronic conditions who are not exempt and those on low incomes find it very difficult to pay. This causes a disproportionate levy on a limited section of the population.
With each rise in prescription charges, the BMA's concern is that more and more patients will be dissuaded from visiting the doctor when they are ill. All GPs have anecdotal evidence of patients asking which of two or more items on a prescription form are the most important as they cannot afford to pay for more than one at a time.
The BMA does not wish to see the specific clinical categories increased but there are many other groups of patients who require lifelong treatment, such as those with cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s Disease, who are more disadvantaged than some of those presently exempt.
The anomalous position of the exemption applying to all prescribed items for patients in the "chronic sick" list continues to pose problems for doctors with other more deserving patients who have to pay charges for the same drugs. For example, the system allows a diabetic with chronic bronchitis to be exempt from all charges whilst a chronic bronchitic with heart failure must pay for all prescriptions.
The level of charge is now such that often it exceeds the actual cost of the drug. It is unreasonable for a patient to be prevented from purchasing that medicine privately from the pharmacist or dispensing doctor if the cost is less than the charge which would otherwise be levied.
The BMA's General Practitioners Committee supports prescription-exempt patients obtaining all over the counter medicines free of charge.
Other issues which need to be addressed:
(This briefing paper applies to England)
The prescription charge system is outdated and the BMA has long called on the Government to initiate a fundamental review of the whole system of prescription charges and exemption categories. In 2006 the Government announced a review of prescription charges which will report by July 2007.
There are many unacceptable inequities and anomalies in the present system. Although around four out of five prescriptions are exempt (see below for list of exempt categories), the price of a prescription (£6.85 [$13.40 U.S. dollars] from 1 April 2007) often hits those who cannot afford such charges. There are many people with chronic conditions who are not exempt and those on low incomes find it very difficult to pay. This causes a disproportionate levy on a limited section of the population.
With each rise in prescription charges, the BMA's concern is that more and more patients will be dissuaded from visiting the doctor when they are ill. All GPs have anecdotal evidence of patients asking which of two or more items on a prescription form are the most important as they cannot afford to pay for more than one at a time.
The BMA does not wish to see the specific clinical categories increased but there are many other groups of patients who require lifelong treatment, such as those with cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s Disease, who are more disadvantaged than some of those presently exempt.
The anomalous position of the exemption applying to all prescribed items for patients in the "chronic sick" list continues to pose problems for doctors with other more deserving patients who have to pay charges for the same drugs. For example, the system allows a diabetic with chronic bronchitis to be exempt from all charges whilst a chronic bronchitic with heart failure must pay for all prescriptions.
The level of charge is now such that often it exceeds the actual cost of the drug. It is unreasonable for a patient to be prevented from purchasing that medicine privately from the pharmacist or dispensing doctor if the cost is less than the charge which would otherwise be levied.
The BMA's General Practitioners Committee supports prescription-exempt patients obtaining all over the counter medicines free of charge.
Other issues which need to be addressed:
- Women are exempt for the duration of pregnancy and for a year afterwards. This latter period is no longer necessary as women's health is rarely hazarded as a result of pregnancy today.
- Many patients in the age exempt categories are well able to pay which would spread the overall burden more fairly.
- Certain drugs have to be given in association with another drug. If the two substances can be combined in one tablet, only one charge is made. However, if the chemical nature of the substances is such that this is impossible or the dose combinations vary, the patient has to pay two or more charges for a combination pack. This particularly occurs with hormone treatment and starter packs for hypertension.
- Current exemption certificates have to be renewed every three years even for conditions which are permanent. This seems to be unnecessary paperwork.
Exemption categories
The following categories of people are entitled to exemption from NHS prescription charges:
The following categories of people are entitled to exemption from NHS prescription charges:
- Men and women aged 60 and over;
- Children under 16;
- Young people in full-time education aged 16, 17 and 18;
- Pregnant women and women who have had a child in the previous 12 months who hold a valid exemption certificate;
- People who hold a valid exemption certificate for a War disablement pension but only in respect of medication for the disablement;
- People suffering from the following conditions who hold a valid exemption certificate:
forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential;
diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism;
diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet alone);
hypoparathyroidism;
myasthenia gravis;
myxoedema;
epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person. - A person or partner receiving Income support; Pension Credit guarantee credit; or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Tax credit where income is £15,050 [$29,443] per year or less and meeting qualifying conditions
Boy, we Yanks really have the edge over the Brits, don't we? However, I do believe the U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturers love us more, don't they?
John
posted by Kathie Bracy at 10:46 PM
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