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Pharmaceutical form refer backs

We have recently noticed a rise in items that are being referred back to contractors for the reason code RB2B: ‘The order/endorsement is incomplete. The presentation must be present.’ This commonly occurs with handwritten prescriptions.

If you receive a referred back item using this code, endorse the presentation (pharmaceutical form) that was dispensed. If you are dispensing a Drug Tariff item, then endorse the item as it is listed in the Drug Tariff.

Here are some common items:

‘Fluoxetine 20mg no presentation (pharmaceutical form)’ prescribed, endorse what was dispensed.

Fluoxetine has four listed presentations (this is the unit of measure or pharmaceutical form):

  1. capsules
  2. dispersible tablet sugar free
  3. oral solution
  4. oral solution sugar free

In this example if you’ve dispensed capsules, just endorse capsules.

‘Sertraline 50mg/5ml liquid’ prescribed, please endorse what was dispensed.

Sertraline has two liquid presentations (this is the unit of measure or pharmaceutical form):

  1. oral suspension sugar free
  2. oral solution

Only endorse the version which was dispensed.

‘Clarithromycin 500mg’ prescribed. Referred back items on MYS use the code RB2B. Endorse the presentation (pharmaceutical form) that was dispensed.

Clarithromycin has three presentations (this is the unit of measure or pharmaceutical form):

  1. tablets
  2. modified-release tablets
  3. powder for solution for infusion vials

Only endorse the version which you dispensed.