The dispensing fee for free contraception for women aged 17-35yrs, as agreed with the Department of Health in principal and approved by Executive committee and PCC last week, is as outlined below:

Pharmacies can now submit Free Contraception Scheme claims through their vendor software with normal end of month electronic claim.

The prescribing Doctor number must be entered (5-digit number).  Where a doctor does not hold a GMS contract and is a private service provider, ‘88888’ should be input under the Doctor’s GMS Number field on the patient PMR. 

It will be a requirement to record the dispensing through the patient’s medication record on your dispensary software. This scheme covers all forms of contraception available on the reimbursement list i.e. tablets, vaginal rings, patches, IUD, Injections. This also applies to the Emergency Hormonal Contraception Service.

To avail of the service, a patient attends a GP, or has attended a GP and has a valid prescription. This consultation with the GP, or the pharmacist in the case of EHC will be free of charge to the patient.

The patient after consultation will receive a prescription for a suitable contraception (OCP, patch, injection, LARC). The contraception prescribed must be on the HSE reimbursement list. Items prescribed not on the HSE reimbursement list will have to be paid privately by the patient. The patient will have the prescription either be sent by Healthmail to a pharmacy who is providing for the service or will be issued a standard 6-month prescription to bring to the pharmacy.

This supply will be given free of charge to the patient from the pharmacy. If the patient is required to return to the GP e.g., LARC, this second consultation with the GP will also be free.

A Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) will be required to access the service. Pharmacies must be able to confirm the patients PPSN and date of birth prior to dispensing for the Free Contraception Scheme.

Yes, pharmacies will still be required to record the dispensing on the PMR. However, the dispensing should be supplied as if the patient were ‘private’ regardless of their eligibility to government schemes.

Yes, once the woman has a valid prescription that complies with legislation the pharmacy may proceed with the service. 

Claims for the Free Contraception Service will be visible in your pharmacy GMS itemised listings. These claims and the administration fee will be reported under a separate section in the GMS itemised listing.

We continue to update this webpage on our website, which will have the following to support members:

• Frequently Asked Questions & How to Guide;
• Poster for display in pharmacy;
• Link to Health Promotions & information on Contraceptive Choices; and
• HSE Communications.

Further information and guidance will be developed as the service unfolds.