Correspondence

Independent provider bulletin: February 2015

Published 26 February 2015

Applies to England

1. For action

1.1 Tariff arrangements for 2015/16 activity: 4 March 2015 deadline

David Bennett, Chief Executive of Monitor and Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England wrote to licensed independent providers of NHS services and those providers registered to receive the section 118 consultation notice outlining interim arrangements for operating the NHS payment system, pending a final decision on the way forward on the national tariff for 2015/16.

We have been working closely with NHS England to finalise a voluntary interim arrangement for 2015/16, and the letter sets out the details of the scheme. All providers are asked to respond to the offer on the form enclosed with the letter by 4 March 2015.

1.2 Specialised commissioning baseline clarification for ‘Enhanced Tariff Option’

Monitor and NHS England will shortly be publishing an FAQ on the tariff arrangements for 2015/16 following our letter on 18 February. However there is one query that has been raised a number of times that we are able to clarify now in relation to the basis upon which the 2014/15 position will be included in the acute prescribed specialised services baseline and whether this is to be based upon month 10 outturn. The tariff arrangement letter confirms that under option A (Enhanced Tariff Option) ‘all contract variations agreed as at the end of January will be incorporated into the baseline’. We can confirm that this means the baseline will be the 2014/15 plan position adjusted for all agreed contract variations as at the end of January 2015, which may or may not include actual over or under performance.

2. For information

2.1 Foundation trust performance in quarter 3 2014/15

For a summary of the foundation trust sector’s performance, read this report and infographic.

2.2 Approved costing guidance - updated February 2015

We have updated our approved costing guidance, which sets out the costing approach that Monitor encourages providers of NHS services to adopt.

We recommend that costing practitioners review and update their costing processes and costing systems in line with the updated guidance, and HFMA’s 2015/16 clinical costing standards for acute and mental health services.

We will not require licensed independent providers to supply cost information in accordance with this costing guidance for the 2014/15 financial year. Independent providers are, however, encouraged to use the costing principles set out in the guidance where possible.

This guidance is for the following types of providers: acute, mental health, community and ambulance.

2.3 Rescheduling cancelled operations

Please remember that if you cancel an operation on the day a patient is due to arrive, after they have arrived, or on the day that their operation is due to take place, you should offer new dates for treatment which are within 28 days of their original appointment.

This standard is a pledge in the NHS Constitution. This covers all planned and booked hospital operations, including day surgery. It doesn’t, however, cover minor procedures carried out in outpatient clinics or as ward attenders.

3. Events and webinars

Keep up to date with all of our events and webinars.

3.1 Local price determination workshops for innovative payment approaches; various locations: 5 March 2015 to 21 May 2015

For: the following roles within independent providers, foundation trusts and NHS trusts:

• heads of contracts, income and costing
• contracting, income and costing accountants
• clinicians and nurses involved in setting payment approaches
• others involved in local price determination and contracting with clinical commissioning groups

Why attend? To shape and form a payment system that works for patients by providing input into the local price determination rules and principles.

The interactive workshops will help explain:

• what the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (the 2012 Act) says about local price determination and what the statutory responsibilities are
• the consequences of non-compliance with the National Tariff or the 2012 Act for the sector as a whole
• how to comply with all the rules and principles around local price determination
• why we collect local price information and how it affects price determination in the Tariff

Read more and register.

(Some dates for these workshops have sold out but if you are interested in being put on a waiting list, please email Ushma.Mistry@monitor.gov.uk.)

3.2 Webinar: aligning strategies across local care economies, watch again online

This webinar looks at how you can use our strategy development toolkit both within foundation trusts and across partners in local health and care economies.

Care planning and delivery, particularly in light of the Five Year Forward View, should be viewed within the context of the whole local care economy where providers (across health settings and social care) play their part alongside relevant bodies.

We would welcome any further suggestions about how we can develop this work. If you’d like to get involved please email either strategydevelopment@monitor.gov.uk or integration@monitor.gov.uk.

3.3 Mental Health Network annual conference and exhibition, 18 March 2015, London

For: All providers of mental health services including independent providers, NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts.

Why attend? To talk to Monitor staff throughout the conference and exhibition on stand 6.

This is an opportunity for you to hear leaders across the mental health community share practical ideas, tools and solutions that can help respond to increasing pressures facing the sector today.

We will be on stand 6 all day and Adrian Masters, Managing Director of Sector Development at Monitor, will also be part of a panel discussing mental health payment systems.

The full programme is available online.

4. External updates

4.1 Freedom to speak up review

Sir Robert Francis’ report, following his review into creating an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS, has now been published.

4.2 Update from the Secretary of State for Health

Read the latest update.

4.3 NHS Change Day: 11 March 2015

NHS Change Day is dedicated to looking at ways that people working in the health sector can make changes to benefit everyone, from patients and service users, to local communities. This year’s event is on 11 March. You can read examples of positive change and how to get involved. You can also follow events on the day on Twitter: @NHSchangeday.

5. Get in touch

5.1 Our latest job opportunities

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

5.2 Queries or feedback

If you have any queries about the information in this bulletin, please contact your relationship manager at Monitor.

5.3 News alerts

You can subscribe to Monitor’s news update service and receive relevant information direct to your inbox.

5.4 Publications

All of our publications are available to download from our publications section.