Correspondence

Independent provider bulletin: April 2015

Published 23 April 2015

Applies to England

1. For action

A reminder that you are required to certify each year that the directors of your organisation are satisfied that you have taken all necessary precautions to comply with the General Condition 6 of your licence.

Your signed certificate can be submited via your licensing portal, and is due within 2 months of the end of your financial year (see below for your deadline).

Your financial year end G6 self certification due date
31 January 31 March
28 February 30 April
31 March 31 May
30 April 30 June
31 May 31 July
30 June 31 August
31 July 30 September
31 August 31 October
30 September 30 November
31 October 31 December
30 November 31 January
31 December 29 February

1.2 Please submit your local prices via our new portal by 30 June 2015

You can now submit your local prices via our new online portal. Please submit yours by 30 June using the new local prices template, which replaces the one you previously used.

The principles and rules for agreeing local prices with your commissioners are set out in subsections 7.1 and 7.4 of the National Tariff Payment System.

1.3 Freedom to speak up: share your views with the Department of Health

The Department of Health (DH) would like your views on how to implement recommendations made in the ‘Freedom to speak up’ review that will help create an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS.

You and your teams can respond online or via email until 4 June.

2. For information

2.1 NHS licence exemptions have changed

The DH has updated its licence exemptions guidance to reflect the changes regarding the nursing care licence exemption amendment regulations, which took effect on 1 April 2015. You are responsible for determining if you are exempt from the requirement to hold a licence to provide an NHS service.

Find out how to apply for a licence.

2.2 New guidance on the integrated care licence condition

We have published new guidance on the integrated care licence condition following feedback to our consultation. It explains:

  • our expectations of you in relation to the integrated care licence condition
  • how to avoid breaching the condition
  • when we may need to take enforcement action

Please read this alongside our enforcement guidance so that you and your colleagues can be confident you are acting within the licence condition.

Anyone can contact us for informal advice, or to make a formal complaint about a provider’s behaviour relating to integrated care in the NHS. Complaints can be made by an individual, healthcare provider, commissioner, patient group or representative body.

2.3 How will your feedback shape the way NHS services are costed?

Thank you for your contributions to our consultation on improving the costing of NHS services. We have reviewed our costing proposals for 2015 to 2021 based on this feedback.

You can read more about the areas of work that are scheduled for 2015 in our response to your feedback.

2.4 Changes to delayed discharge payments under the Care Act

Changes to delayed discharge payment arrangements came into effect on 1 April and are outlined in the ‘Care and Support Statutory Guidance.’ This technical guidance is also available to provide further information on the changes.

If you have any questions on the Care Act please email Charlotte Buckley at the DH, carebillreform@local.gov.uk. If you have a query on the technical guidance please email Paul Steele at NHS England, unify2@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

2.5 Monitor’s new Director of Pricing

Toby Lambert has taken over as the Director of Pricing at Monitor. Toby was previously Monitor’s Director of Strategy and Policy. Ric Marshall, who has been heading up Monitor’s Pricing team, will stay on throughout 2015 to support this year’s payment cycle.

Toby looks forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks and months as we work with NHS England to develop proposals for the 2016/17 national tariff.

3. Events

3.1 Monitor and HFMA Annual Costing Conference 2015: Direction of Travel

30 April 2015, London

For: Costing practitioners.

Why attend? To hear about the latest developments in costing methodologies and guidance.

On the day:

  • hear about Monitor’s plans for costing, and how we will support the new models of care set out in the Five Year Forward View
  • there will be plenary and workshop sessions on important topics covering costing from an acute, mental health, community and strategic point of view

We will be speaking at this event, and delegates can also visit our stand to speak to our costing team.

Learn more and book your place.

3.2 HFMA NHS Payment System Conference

13 May 2015, London

For: Finance directors and finance managers with a role or interest in the development and operation of the NHS payment system.

Why attend? This conference aims to provide both a strategic overview and the opportunity for technical discussion on current and future issues relating to the NHS payment system.

On the day:

  • join a Q&A session led by Monitor and NHS England
  • hear how the payment system can support the delivery of the NHS Five Year Forward View
  • look at the priorities for the 2016/17 National Tariff
  • learn from pilots about the payment system and new care models
  • explore how improving costing can help deliver better prices
  • discuss urgent and emergency care reimbursement
  • examine local variations

Book your place.

4. External updates

4.1 Changes to drink and drug driving laws and the impact on NHS frontline staff

The following changes to drink and drug driving laws came into force on Friday 10 April:

  • drink drivers will no longer be entitled to request a blood or urine sample when their breath specimen is less than 51mg/100ml; the police will however retain the right to test blood or urine should they wish to do so
  • a wider range of registered healthcare professionals will be able to advise whether a person is impaired by drugs during the investigation of a person’s driving ability
  • registered healthcare professionals will also now be able to take evidential blood samples at hospitals in addition to the existing provision for police stations

The 10 April commencement date was set in a Statutory Instruments Order following the De-Regulation Act 2015 and will apply consistently across all forms of transport including road, rail, maritime and aviation.

4.2 New overseas tariff for non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries

A new overseas tariff for patients from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries came into effect on 6 April 2015.

Please invoice chargeable patients 150% of the national tariff (or equivalent). In addition you will be eligible to receive half the value of invoices issued to these patients from your commissioner(s).

For more information, read this guidance on overseas visitor hospital charging regulations.

If you have any questions please contact the Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery Programme NHSCostRecovery@dh.gsi.gov.uk.

4.3 Increases to optical voucher values and hospital eye service charges

NHS optical voucher values and hospital eye service charges have increased as of 1 April 2015.

The DH has produced a note and directions on these increases for those dealing with general ophthalmic services and the hospital eye service.

5. Getting in touch

5.1 Questions or feedback

If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please email licensing@monitor.gov.uk.

5.2 News alerts

You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service, which is a convenient way for you to receive relevant information direct to your inbox.

5.3 Publications

All of our publications for independent providers are available to download from our website.

5.4 Our latest job opportunities

For more information or to apply, please visit our recruitment website joinmonitor.com.