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MSP Member Update Vol. 2 No. 24
The Manitoba Pharmacy Conference April 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2005 Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba
In This Issue:
1. PCH Agreement Ratified 2. Price Increases Reflected on Provincial Formulary, as of January 3, 2005 3. Board of Directors Adopts Position Statement
1. PCH Agreement Ratified The Manitoba Society of Pharmacists (MSP) and Manitoba Health have reached an agreement with respect to capitation fees for pharmacy services in Manitoba licensed Personal Care Homes (PCHs). The agreement was ratified by PCH Pharmacy Providers on Friday, December 10, 2004.
By way of background this agreement represents the first increase in capitation fees since 1992. The parties have agreed to sign a formal agreement which adopts all the terms included in the 1992 agreement except those amended in the December 2004, agreement.
You can review the terms of the agreement in a short period as the document is only 2 pages long. It is located at http://www.msp.mb.ca/index2.htm. However, you should be aware that the agreement increases the rural compliant with standards rate to $32.34 (increase of 20%), and the rural non-compliant with standards rate to $31.38 (increase of 20%). In addition this agreement does not extinguish the pharmacy providers’ property rights to drug returns; this had been a central issue in the negotiations.
The agreement is for 16 months in total (April 1, 2004 to August 1, 2005). This means there will be retroactive payments of 8 months (as of November 30, 2004) and the agreement will expire approximately 8 months from today. The parties have also agreed to commence the next round of negotiations as of May 1, 2005. It is the PCH Negotiations Committee’s expectations that this agreement will be renewed effective August 1, 2005. 2. Price Increases Reflected on Provincial Formulary, as of January 3, 2005 As most of you are well aware since November 1, 2004, there have been price increases to certain generic drugs and some of these increases are quite significant. Because the drug manufacturers provided no notice of the price increases, and due to the current reality that price changes cannot be reflected on the Provincial Formulary without Government regulations being passed, many pharmacies are losing money each time certain drugs are dispensed. MSP met with Manitoba Health on November 15, 2004, and they committed to provide their best efforts in getting the price changes reflected on the formulary. To Manitoba Health’s credit they have managed to satisfy all regulatory requirements, and have circulated Bulletin #46, Manitoba Drug Benefits and Interchangeability Formulary Amendments. These changes will take effect on January 3, 2005. To down load a copy of the Bulletin #46 go to http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/mdbif/index.html 3. Board of Directors Adopts Position Statement Removal of Tobacco Products from Manitoba Pharmacies At the Board Meeting of December 8th, 2004, the Board of Directors after consulting the membership and much debate and consideration formally adopted the following position statement: Manitoba’s pharmacists are performing an increasingly important role in the health care of Manitobans. As the most accessible and well-trusted frontline health professionals, pharmacists promote health awareness, prevention and treatment of diseases through appropriate drug therapy and non-drug decisions; Manitoba’s pharmacists and the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists have assumed professional responsibility in tobacco reduction initiatives and smoking cessation programs in the overall goal of wellness promotion and recognize that selling tobacco puts these pharmacists in a conflict; Five provinces have already prohibited tobacco sales in pharmacies and in establishments containing pharmacies (Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario) and stakeholders including physicians, MANTRA, MPhA, dentists, and the public are supportive of removing tobacco from pharmacies; A recent survey of members of the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists found that 84% of respondents do not support tobacco products being sold in pharmacies, and 86% of respondents believe that the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists should adopt a formal position with respect to the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies; The Board of Directors of the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists takes the position that comprehensive tobacco reduction legislation be adopted that does not allow the sale of tobacco products within premises with a pharmacy; that the legislation must apply to all businesses that operate a pharmacy; and that, upon proclamation, a 12-month transition period be provided prior to implementation of the legislation.
Adopted: Dec. 8, 2004 Board of Directors Manitoba Society of Pharmacists |
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