Frequently asked questions about quarterly notifications
The reference price system applies to reimbursable medicinal products that are included in generic substitution. In the reference price system, each product is assigned a highest price from which a reimbursement can be calculated. If the customer declines the substitution of their medicine with a product sold at the reference price or lower, they will receive reimbursement based on the reference price and will have to pay the amount exceeding the reference price out of pocket. More information about the reference price system (hila.fi).
Generic substitution means that a prescription medicine can be substituted with a less expensive interchangeable product at the pharmacy. A medicinal product that is only included in generic substitution does not have a reference price. If a customer buys this kind of product and it is included in the reimbursement system, the customer will be reimbursed based on the full price of the product.
The Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board publishes a list of pharmaceutical products that are subject to the price notification process four times a year (hila.fi, in Finnish). The price notification procedure concerns products included in generic substitution and the reference price system as well as products undergoing a transition period.
Pharmaceutical companies must submit a price notification for all products subject to the price notification procedure to Kela no later than 21 days before the first day of each quarter. If no notification is submitted about a product that is subject to the price notification procedure in the reference price system, the product loses its reimbursability status and becomes non-reimbursable at the beginning of the quarter.
Kela forwards the price notifications to the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board for the determination of reference prices. Kela also establishes price corridors based on the prices disclosed in the notifications.
Yes. Price notifications must be submitted even if the price stays the same.
Yes. Price notifications must be submitted for all products subject to the price notification procedure.
When a product is generally available, it means that the product is available at wholesalers at the time of notification and for the entire duration of the following quarter. Only products that are generally available are taken into account when the upper limit of the price corridor and the reference price are determined. It is important for the information on availability to be disclosed correctly in the price notification. That way Kela can ensure that the upper limit of the price corridor is based on the price of the least expensive generally available product.
The price notification can be amended until 16.15 on the final scheduled date of notification. See the schedule for generic substitution and the reference price system.
Please contact Kela if a product that is subject to the price notification procedure in generic substitution and the reference price system does not appear in the e-service for pharmaceutical companies.
In exceptional cases, price notifications can be submitted to Kela on a paper form. Click here to go to the price notification form.
If the product is not subject to the price notification procedure in generic substitution or the reference price system, but the price of the product will change at the beginning of the quarter, report the new price to Pharmaca Health Intelligence Oy, the Association of Finnish Pharmacies and Yliopiston Apteekki in accordance with their instructions.
Representatives of pharmaceutical companies can access the e-service if they have a valid Suomi.fi mandate called ‘Price notifications of medicinal products’. If you are unable to log in, please contact Kela immediately.
Please note: The service can only be used by pharmaceutical companies that have a Finnish business ID (Y-tunnus). The service is only available in Finnish and Swedish.
Submit a price notification concerning the product to Kela no later than 21 days before the first day of the quarter. If no notification is submitted, the product loses its reimbursability status and becomes non-reimbursable at the beginning of the quarter.
If the wholesale price of the product is not known, enter EUR 0.00 as the wholesale price. Select No under availability.
Yes it can if the product is subject to the price notification procedure in the reference price system. In the price notification, select 'The product is withdrawn from the reimbursement system'. The product will lose its reimbursability status and become non-reimbursable at the beginning of the following quarter.
If no interchangeable medicinal product packs of the same size are generally available for the entire duration of the quarter, Kela will establish a technical upper limit for the price corridor on the basis of the least expensive reported price. This ensures that the pharmacy can include these products in the substitution process when they are available.
Submit a price notification to Kela as usual in accordance with the schedule for quarterly notifications. Please contact Kela if the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board confirms a maximum wholesale price for the product that is lower than the reported wholesale price after the deadline for submitting price notifications has passed. The wholesale price stated in the price notification must be adjusted to correspond to the decision issued by the Pharmaceuticals Pricing Board in order for the product to retain its reimbursability status.
If the product is included in the list of substitutable medicinal products (fimea.fi) for the upcoming quarter, you must submit a price notification regarding the product to Kela no later than 21 days before the first day of the quarter. The price cannot be reported to Kela or for inclusion in pharmacy price lists after this deadline.
If the product is not included in Fimea’s list, you must submit a price notification to Pharmaca Health Intelligence Oy, the Association of Finnish Pharmacies and Yliopiston Apteekki in accordance with their instructions.