RTEC lets the pharmacy see if a patient needs to pay for their NHS prescriptions. Your pharmacy team will do this when the patient picks up a prescription, or when it’s sent out to them.
This means your team can:
- be sure the patient is exempt from paying for their prescriptions
- help save the patient money if they did not know they were entitled to free prescriptions
- save them and the patient time at the counter
The service aims to help reduce fraud and error in the NHS by making sure prescriptions are claimed correctly.
Exemptions included
The exemptions currently included are:
- maternity exemption certificates
- medical exemption certificates
- 3 or 12 month Prescription Prepayment Certificates that cover all NHS prescriptions
- HC2 certificates
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit
Your team will be able to tell the patient if they need to pay, but will not be able to tell them why they’re exempt.
Your team may still need to ask the patient to provide proof that they do not need to pay for their prescriptions. The patient can check if they are entitled to free prescriptions at https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-youre-eligible-help
If their exemption cannot be found, they’ll need to complete and sign the prescription form as normal. They can check if their exemption certificate is still valid at https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-for-help-paying-nhs-costs/start-exempt
Patients need to keep their details up to date
To check if they need to pay, your team will use a patient’s:
- NHS number
- surname
- date of birth
- postcode
These details will be checked automatically against details held for their exemption.
They should make sure their details are correct on their exemption, and match the details held at their GP and pharmacy.
How a patient can check their details are correct on their exemption
For medical and maternity exemption certificates, and 3 or 12 month Prescription Prepayment Certificates, they should call us on 0300 330 1341.
For HC2 and HC3 certificates, they should call us on 0300 330 1343.
Lines are available Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.
Contact information for pharmacy IT suppliers
Pharmacy contractors can find more information about RTEC, including how to register, on the Community Pharmacy England (CPE) website.
If you want to submit a request to change the RTEC service you currently provide email [email protected]