The application conditions for designated pharmacies in many places are becoming more and more stringent!

Recently, the Henan Provincial Medical Security Bureau issued the "Work Plan for New Designated Medical Institutions in Henan Province (Trial Implementation)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") to regulate the access of
designated medical institutions.

The "Plan" mentions that pharmacies apply for fixed-point qualifications, and the operating area of "non-medical insurance swipe card" must be within 20%; The store area is less than 100 square meters, and points are directly deducted
.

Designated retail pharmacies are products of the medical insurance system, which are qualified by the labor and social security administrative departments and determined by the medical insurance agencies to provide prescription out-of-prescription and over-the-counter drug retail services for insured persons
.

It is understood that in order to further standardize and strengthen the medical insurance management of designated retail pharmacies and safeguard the rights and interests of insured persons, the application conditions of designated pharmacies in many places have become more and more stringent
in recent years.

On August 26 this year, the Xi'an Medical Security Service Center issued a notice on the new designated retail pharmacies for chronic diseases, which clearly stated that in accordance with the principle of "rational layout, merit selection, encouragement of competition, and dynamic management", the medical security agency will select qualified retail pharmacies for chronic diseases among the contracted designated retail pharmacies
.

In the notice, the Xi'an Medical Security Service Center also clearly stipulates the declaration conditions for designated retail pharmacies for chronic diseases
.

Among them, it is proposed that the actual operating area of the pharmacy reach 80 square meters (inclusive), set up a chronic disease service area and have a clear logo, and the service area should include a prescription review area, a dispensing area, a pharmaceutical service area, a patient education area, etc
.

In addition, it is also proposed that at least 2 full-time (part-time) personnel familiar with medical insurance laws and regulations and related systems are responsible for chronic disease management, and sign a labor contract for more than 1 year and within the contract period, etc.
Since January 1, the Zhejiang Provincial Medical Security Bureau has officially implemented the "Rules for the Determination of Medical Security Designated Retail Pharmacies" (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules"), and the evaluation rules for designated pharmacies have also triggered discussions
in the industry.

It is understood that the detailed rules emphasize that pharmacies need to be formally operated at a registered address for at least 3 months; At least 1 pharmacist who has obtained a practicing pharmacist qualification certificate or has a professional and technical qualification certificate in pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, or Traditional Chinese medicine, and the place of registration is in the retail pharmacy, and the pharmacist must sign a labor contract for 1 year or more and within the contract period; At least 2 full-time (part-time) medical insurance managers who are familiar with the provisions of medical security laws and regulations and related systems are responsible for managing medical insurance expenses and signing a labor contract for 1 year or more and within the contract period
.

Industry insiders believe that the increasing requirements for designated pharmacies in various places are mainly due to the implementation of the established policies of the state by provincial departments
.

On January 8, 2021, the National Medical Insurance Bureau issued the Interim Measures for the Designated Management of Medical Security in Retail Pharmacies, which made the relationship between the medical insurance administrative department, the medical insurance handling agency and the designated retail pharmacy clearer, clarified the liability of the subject of the agreement for breach of contract, proposed the specific circumstances of the suspension and termination of the agreement, and further promoted the standardization and rule of law of the designated management of retail pharmacies
.

At present, from the perspective of a series of operations from the state to the locality, the application and supervision of designated retail pharmacies will become more and more strictly standardized
.

In this context, pharmacists need to return to services, and do their part, keep up with the new policies of the industry, in order to maintain profit margins while meeting the needs of more patients'
professional services.

Disclaimer: In no event shall the information or opinions expressed herein constitute investment advice
to any person.