Thursday 12 March 2015
Checks have been made by Social Security on people claiming free prescriptions. They are writing over the next few days to approximately 200 islanders who may have wrongly claimed a free prescription last October. Those people will be asked the reason for claiming a free prescription and, where appropriate, to pay back the amount due.
You do not have to pay prescription charges if you are over 65, or receiving supplementary benefit, severe disability benefit (formerly attendance allowance) or have been given a valid certificate of exemption from prescription charges by Social Security.
Malcolm Nutley, Chief Officer of Social Security said:
"We looked at prescription forms that were dispensed throughout the month of October. We found more anomalies than expected. We are writing to all of the people concerned in order to receive their explanation and to recover the prescription charges that we think should have been paid. No-one over 65 will receive a letter."
"Indications are that some people receiving sickness benefit or invalidity benefit think they are entitled to free prescriptions. That's not the case, unless they are receiving supplementary benefit as well."
"As soon as we realised there was a problem, we asked all of the dispensing pharmacists to make sure that anyone claiming free prescriptions does properly complete the form on the back of the prescription. You have to tick one of the 3 boxes which applies to your situation, then sign and date it. This can be done on behalf of the person whose drugs are being picked up."
"We will be carrying out a similar audit of prescriptions that were dispensed in January to check that the increased vigilance has had an effect."
The cost of prescription drugs and medicines is around £15.5m per year, before taking off around £1.9m paid in prescription charges. The current charge is £3.40 per item.
Around one and a half million prescription items are dispensed each year. Prescription charges are paid on around 40% of the items, with the remaining 60% being claimed free of charge.
-ENDS-
