Pharmacy

Community Pharmacy and Pharmacist Service contracts

The  Pharmacy/Pharmacist Service Contract Policy comes into effect on 2 November 2020. It specifies how and under which conditions Hawke’s Bay DHB will purchase new community pharmacy / pharmacist services.  This policy is HBDHB’s commitment to an equitable and quality approach for the commission and contracting of pharmacist  and pharmacy services that achieve our statutory objectives and achieve the national vision in a matter that best meets the need of Hawke’s Bay’s community.  From 2 November 2020, Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (DHB) moratorium on applications for new Integrated Community Pharmacy Services Agreements (ICPSA) in Hawke’s Bay will be lifted. 

This policy and process applies to:

  • Applications for a pharmacy/pharmacist service contract, including by not limited to, an ICPSA
  • Existing pharmacy/pharmacist service contract holder request
    • a change in ownership
    • to change service location
    • for establishment of a satellite pharmacy 

If you would like to apply for a new ICPSA contract please contact Contracts@hawkesbaydhb.govt.nz Attention: Contract Liaison (Pharmacy) and request an Endorsed Provider form and follow the process outlined in the Policy.

If you are a current ICPSA contract-holder and wish to change ownership, relocate, or establish a satellite pharmacy please complete relevant sections of the Pharmacy/Pharmacist Supplementary Form and send with accompanying cover letter to Contracts@hawkesbaydhb.govt.nz Attention: Contract Liaison (Pharmacy). 

Download associated documents:

HBDHB Pharmacy/Pharmacist Service Contract Policy

Pharmacy/Pharmacist Supplementary Form 

The establishment of a Contract Policy and associated quality framework is in alignment with the HBDHB Community Based Pharmacy Services in Hawke’s Bay Strategic Direction 2016-2020.

Hawke’s Bay DHB community pharmacy charge rules

The ICPSA contract clause D.7  outlines the contractual obligations related to pharmacy charges.

The Permitted Pharmacy Charges rules provide a list of circumstances in which the pharmacy may charge additional fees.  The rules also refer to pharmacies being responsible for knowing the national rules, as well as any DHB specific rules.

Additional Hawke’s Bay DHB arrangements where charging is excluded are listed below.   Community Pharmacy providers must refer people to avoid or reduce the charge before the services are provided, as per their obligation in clause D.7 (4). 

  1. Collection and destruction of medical waste and medical sharps containers
    Pharmacies may not charge members of the public for the return of medical waste or medical sharps for disposal.

    Pharmacies may not charge members of the public for the supply of a sharps container for medical sharp disposal.  These are provided by the DHB Hospital Pharmacy free of charge to the Pharmacy.

    The DHB works with a contractor to provide a waste disposal service in every Hawke’s Bay pharmacy at no charge to the Pharmacy.

    If a pharmacy does not participate in the free disposal scheme, they must inform members of the public which pharmacies do participate.  Pharmacies are also requested to provide guidance on the Needle Exchange Programme providers for non-medical sharps disposal
     
  2. NRT Smoking Cessation Advice
    Pharmacies may not charge members of the public for a Smoking Cessation advice service, unless the member of the public has been informed of the free Te Haa Matea – Hawke’s Bay Stop Smoking Service and have declined to access free smoking cessation support via this service.

  3. Patients receiving services fully funded by the DHB 
    For example MUR, CPAMs, after-hours under 14 are not to be charged additional fees.  

    For services that are not related to those captured in the ICPSA or where Hawke’s Bay DHB is not in a position to offer a contract to all pharmacies due to volume/budget caps these services may be offered and charged for if, but only if, the pharmacy has first informed the patient where they can go to get the service where it is fully funded, or the pharmacy is providing this service over and above their contracted volume cap.

Pharmacy staff who are in doubt about how to apply these rules should please contact the Planning and Commissioning Manager (Referred Services).

PHARMAC General Rules Practitioner Supply quantities RURAL AREA – definition for Hawke’s Bay DHB 

Section 1.3.3 General Rules of the PHAMAC Schedule outlines the funding rules in regard to Practitioner Supply Orders for rural areas.  The Schedule defines rural area in the following manner: ‘Rural Area means an area locally determined as rural by the appropriate DHB’.

The following locations within the Hawke’s Bay DHB are deemed to be rural areas for the purpose of this definition:

  • Wairoa
  • Waipawa
  • Waipukurau

For further information please refer to the PHARMAC online schedule.