Contractors have been reminded to submit their forms for dispensed prescription costs and prescription bundles by the 5th of every month, after new data suggested several pharmacies are missing the deadline.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has reminded pharmacy owners to submit their FP34C declaration using the Manage Your Service (MYS) portal and to dispatch their prescription bundles to the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) no later than the 5th of the month (or by the 6th if a bank holiday occurs during this period) or risk extra fees.

The FP34C is an online monthly submission form used by community pharmacies to claim reimbursement for dispensed prescriptions and is submitted each month, while the prescription bundle is the physical submission of paper and required Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) prescription tokens to the NHSBSA

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Data shared with CPE from the NHSBSA found that an average of 50 pharmacies submitted their end-of-month prescription bundles past the deadline over the last six months (November 2024 to April 2025).

CPE this week has reminded contractors that the NHSBSA may apply an administrative charge of £25 to pharmacies that submit their prescription bundles late.

Before applying late prescription bundle charges, the NHSBSA will contact the pharmacy owner requesting email evidence that both the FP34C claim form has been submitted and for proof of postage that prescription bundle was dispatched by the 5th.

Where evidence is submitted and approved, no fee will be charged. If no evidence is provided within the required time, then NHSBSA will deduct the £25 fee from the next Schedule of Payments.

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Those who submit their FP34C declaration late will also not receive their advance payments early – which is paid four working days after the submission deadline – but will instead receive their payments around the 1st of the month following submission.

The advance payment timetable means contractors receive payment approximately 20 days earlier in comparison to the previous payment timetable.

CPE’s briefing titled ‘Administrative charges for late submission of prescription forms’ provides guidance for pharmacy teams on correct end of month submission processes.

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Pharmacy owners who receive the administrative fee can appeal NHSBSA’s decision on its website. The pharmacy owner will need to submit the evidence and the form no later than one month after the month the fee was applied.

Contractors have also been reminded this week that they must register to deliver the Pharmacy Contraception Service, Hypertension Case Finding Service and Pharmacy First before Sunday 1 June to ensure they are entitled to a monthly fixed payment.