COVID-19 NHS contracting and payment guidance appendix template statement for block-payments

Publications approval reference: 001559
Date: 26 March 2020

Revised arrangements for NHS contracting and payment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Appendix 1: Template statement for block payments

[This template is for use by NHS England / CCGs to record the block payment approach with their NHS providers (NHS trusts and NHS foundation trust), which departs from the current pricing arrangements. This template should be read alongside NHSE-NHSI’s guidance on contracting and payment during the COVID-19 pandemic.]

COMMISSIONER: xxxxxxxxxxxx CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP OR NHS

ENGLAND
(“the Commissioner”]

PROVIDERS: [List here all the NHS providers]

Xxxxx xxxxxx NHS TRUST

Xxxxx xxxxxx NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
(“the Trusts”)

The payment approach set out in this statement is to apply to payment for the provision of NHS services provided by each of the Trusts under arrangements made by the Commissioner, for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 July 2020, or such longer period as may be agreed in accordance with national guidance.

Revised payment arrangements are necessary to ensure an effective NHS response to COVID-19 outbreak, ensuring sufficient funding for the provision of services to patients while minimising the administrative burdens on NHS commissioners and providers. The arrangements accord with national policy and guidance and are consistent with the local pricing principles set out in Section 6.1 of the National Tariff – in particular, that arrangements are in the best interests of patients, having regard to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The price to be paid by the commissioner to each trust for the provision of NHS services under arrangements made by the commissioner shall be a single amount for each month as determined and notified by NHS England and NHS Improvement in accordance with the guidance notified to commissioners and trusts, and any amendments to that guidance or subsequent relevant guidance issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

In order to adopt that block payment arrangement, the Commissioner and each Trust agree to:

  1. in respect of services which are subject to national prices specified in the national tariff published under section 116 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (“the national tariff”), vary the specifications and national prices of those services;
  2. in respect of services subject to a blended payment arrangement prescribed by local pricing rules under Section 7 of the national tariff, depart from those arrangements; and
  3. in respect of services which are not subject to either national prices or a blended payment, but which are subject to a national currency, not use those currencies for the purposes of payment, so that the price payable for the services provided by the Trust is the monthly amount described above.

The variations and departures referred to above replace all other local variations, local departures, local modifications and local pricing arrangements agreed between the Commissioner and each Trust.

This statement is to be submitted by the Commissioner to NHS Improvement pricing@improvement.nhs.uk. NHS Improvement will publish the statement on behalf of the Commissioner(s) in accordance with section 116(3) of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the relevant rules in the national tariff.

Signed

Name
Position
Xxxxxx Clinical Commissioning Group
Date: