Wednesday, 24 May 2023

HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate

If you've been prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 

You can get an HRT prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) if you’ve been prescribed an eligible hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicine.

What you'll get

The HRT PPC costs £19.30 for 12 months.

It will cover all your eligible HRT prescriptions for that period, no matter how many different medicines you need. There’s no limit on the number of HRT prescription items you can get with it while it’s valid.

You’ll save money if you’re going to buy more than 2 prescription items in 12 months.

Important Information

To use your HRT PPC, ask your prescriber for your HRT items on a separate prescription to any other medicines you are prescribed (one prescription per item). This is to ensure the prescription can be processed correctly at the pharmacy.

Take your prescriptions and HRT PPC to a pharmacy and use it as many times as you need over 12 months.

Before getting the HRT PPC:

  • check that you’re not already eligible for free NHS prescriptions using the eligibility checker on the NHSBSA website
  • check that your medicine is covered by the HRT PPC - see the list of eligible HRT medication
  • check whether a 3 or 12-month general PPC is more suitable for you - it covers all NHS prescriptions, not just HRT items, and may be more cost-effective if you are prescribed other medicines as well as HRT

The HRT PPC will be valid for 12 months and there is no limit on the number of times the certificate is used before it expires. You do not need to get it on 1 April 2023 - get it just before your next prescription to maximise your use of it over the year.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-scheme-for-cheaper-hormone-replacement-therapy-launches for all the information needed.

How to buy

There are a few different ways to get the HRT PPC:

  • online on the NHSBSA website: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc
  • in person at some pharmacies
  • if you’re deaf or hard of hearing, you can use the textphone (or minicom) to contact the NHSBSA using the text relay service. Dial 18001 then the relevant phone number. This will be available from 25 May 2023
  • the NHSBSA also offers a telephone translation service and can provide documents in large print or Braille on request

Patients can call 0300 330 2089 for help and support.