This is the text extract for Update on Nicotine Replacement Therapy, browse documents here.

29 March 2010

Dear Pharmacist

Update on Nicotine Replacement Therapy dispensed on prescription and Quit Card

As you will be aware, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) became subsidised on Prescription and Quit Card in September 2009. This change enabled Practitioners, but not Quit Card Providers, to write a prescription for subsidised NRT as an alternative to Quit Cards. PHARMAC has received several queries since this change. The purpose of this letter is to provide some clarification around common queries and to inform you of a name change for the Quit Group signature that is used on Quit Cards issued by the Quitline. Length of validity on repeats The length of validity on repeats for NRT dispensed on prescription and Quit Cards is 90 days. For LOTS, when dispensing an NRT script with a repeat, type in ‘T’ in the repeat field for ‘1 repeat before 3/12’ This needs to be manually changed on TONIQ. Instructions from TONIQ are attached to this communication. New signature on Quit Cards issued by the Quitline Quit Cards issued by the Quitline now have a new authorised signature in the signature field. There is now a signature with “Authorised electronic Quit Group signature” printed underneath. No other changes have been made to these Quit Cards and they should continue to be processed as usual. An example of the new signature field is presented below:

General reminders Correct NZMC registration numbers to be used for Quit Card providers and the Quitline are: 88888 – Quit Cards issued by Quitline 99999 – Quit Cards issued by Community Quit Card Providers Access Exemption Criteria does not apply for NRT dispensed on prescription or Quit Card. More information For more information, please call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 66 00 50. A344110 Page 1 of 1

NRT MEDICINES Repeat expiry

In the April 2010 medicine update Toniq have corrected the repeat expiry for Habitrol and Nicotinell to 90. Check that the correct value will be used by removing the “Override first repeat” that may have been entered previously. From Dispensary Prescription Entry screen: Select each subsidised NRT product, for Habitrol and Nicotinell. F7 Medicine Type pharmacode (see below) F9 Goto Misc Enter 0 in Override first repeat as shown and Press F12 to save.

This will change to 90 when the April med update is run.

Pharmacode 2006979 2006995 2007010 2007037 2179504 2179512 2179520 2179539 2179547 2179555 2179563 2294370 2294389

Brand NICOTINELL NICOTINELL NICOTINELL NICOTINELL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL HABITROL

Form Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum Patches Patches Patches Lozenges Lozenges

Strength 2mg Mint 4mg Mint 2mg Fruit 4mg Fruit 2mg Fruit 4mg Fruit 2mg Mint 4mg Mint 7mg/24hr 14mg/24hr 21mg/24hr 1mg Mint 2mg Mint