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Community Pharmacy England (CPE) explored “potential fee changes” to minimise the impact variability in treatment periods can have on pharmacy finance at the negotiator’s committee meeting in June.

According to a report from CPE’s June meeting, the funding and contract subcomittee “discussed period of treatment variability and its impact on pharmacy finances, establishing criteria for exploratory modelling of potential fee changes to try to minimise this effect”.

The subcommittee had also worked with NHS England on draft communications to raise awareness among integrated care board (ICB) leaders of the impact branded generic prescribing has on community pharmacy contractors.

The committee also reflected on CPE’s “early engagement” with the Department of Health and Social Care on contractual reforms and on how “possible future contract principles” might “hinder or support progress towards long-term sector sustainability”.

Areas for potential reform that were discussed included “low priced lines in Category M reimbursement,” monthly caps on the delivery of advanced services and dispensing at a loss.

CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said: ““We are still working with the DHSC to shape a forward-looking programme of community pharmacy contractual reform, centred on strengthening the sustainability of the sector.

“This will require a more effective medicines margin framework in the short term, alongside a fundamental review of the current reimbursement model against alternative approaches.

“It will also involve re-examining the clinical services offered across the network, with a clearer steer on national and local commissioning and funding architecture that supports greater clinical contribution.

“In parallel, we will reassess how dispensing works within a modern medicines optimisation model, and pursue regulatory reform that removes barriers, enables innovation, and supports effective patient access.”