In the busy and complicated world of dispensing doctors, before you know it incorrect assumptions are being treated as facts. A figure appears on an invoice, a rebate lands at month end, a scheme shows a debit rather than a credit, and conclusions are drawn.
It’s important that dispensing practices have the correct information to enable them to make profitable decisions, so in true Mythbusters style we are tackling some of the most common misconceptions we hear from dispensing practices and setting the record straight.
Myth 1
The APM Generic Price I see on my invoice and the PSUK portal is the price I am paying
Busted.
The APM screen price is not your final net price.
APM, Active Price Management, is designed to protect you in a volatile generics market. Whether prices are falling mid-month or products are going short, the system works to secure the best available price and supply.
PSUK members are invoiced at the screen price and then rebated down to their true net price at month end. This structure allows PSUK to monitor generic price movements throughout the month and ensure you are rebated down to the cheapest APM price across all of your purchases.
The number you initially see is not the number you ultimately pay. The loyalty discount will also be deducted from this, alongside your APM discount.
Myth 2
There are lots of over tariff products coming through PSUK that will impact my profitability
Busted.
The invoice and portal prices do not reflect your post rebate net cost. Once APM rebates have been applied, many products that initially appeared over tariff are no longer so.
EMIS and Portal users can review their true over tariff position in the Over Tariff section after APM rebates have been applied.
It is also important to check after concessions have been awarded, as the list typically reduces significantly once market corrections are reflected.
Myth 3
I have 6 percent APM discount so this must be the discount I get off the screen price
Not quite.
Your overall APM generic rebate is made up of two elements.
First, the APM Rebate, which rebates you from the screen price down to the standard APM price.
Second, the APM Loyalty Rebate, which is set at 6 percent for members using PSUK as first line.
These two components combine to give your total generic rebate. The 6 percent figure is only one part of the overall calculation.
Myth 4
My MDS rebates are linked to spend targets at PSUK
Busted.
There are no spend targets or minimum requirements for any PSUK member to receive MDS rebates.
These are manufacturer set schemes and are available to all PSUK members unless the manufacturer stipulates otherwise.
There are currently over 80 MDS schemes available through PSUK, including exclusive agreements. On average, these generate more than £12,000 per year for PSUK members.
This is incremental income, not conditional income.
Myth 5
Products ordered through Golden Tote come labelled for the patient
Incorrect.
Golden Tote is not a labelling service. It is a software solution that integrates with your Patient Record system and uses barcode technology to enhance the dispensing process.
Orders to Phoenix are grouped into patient prescriptions within each tote. On delivery, the system confirms how many patients are contained within that tote. Your team dispenses from the tote and prints and attaches the labels in the usual way.
The benefit is workflow optimisation and improved accuracy, not pre labelled stock. PSUK Connect is the PSUK PMR offering for members that will enable dispensaries to not only take advantage of Golden Tote, but also become EPS enabled.
Myth 6
I have signed up for the Mounjaro rebate but am seeing debits on my account rather than credits
This comes down to eligibility.
There is no rebate on NHS Mounjaro prescriptions. The commercial agreement with Lilly applies to private prescriptions only.
If you have previously signed up, Lilly applies weekly credits across all Mounjaro purchases and then adjusts at month end if there are no eligible private prescriptions.
If your practice does not dispense private Mounjaro and you have signed up to the scheme, you should opt out to avoid debit adjustments.
This is not a pricing error. It is an eligibility issue.
The Bigger Picture
Generic prices can fluctuate daily, but APM is designed to remove this volatility by continuously monitoring the market and securing the best available pricing across the month.
APM exists to protect margin, smooth volatility, deliver lowest market pricing and provide transparency through structured rebates.
If you would like a clearer breakdown of how your rebates are calculated or want support reviewing your net position, the PSUK team is here to help.
Because in dispensing, margin certainty matters and myths can be costly.