Overview

This bill proposes to amend the National Health Service Act 2006 in England to allow for co-funding and co-payment of NHS services. This means patients might be asked to contribute financially towards their healthcare, either directly or through an agreement involving other funding sources.

Description

The bill makes key changes to the National Health Service Act 2006:

• Amendment of Section 1: The bill alters section 1 to explicitly permit charges for NHS services in England if these charges are part of a co-funding or co-payment agreement.
• New Section 12F: A new section (12F) is added to define "co-funding" as permissible where NHS care is partly funded by the patient or on their behalf. It also clarifies that co-payments are included under this definition.

In essence, the bill legalizes scenarios where patients may share the cost of their NHS treatment, alongside existing government funding. The bill applies to England and Wales and will come into force two months after Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly stated. However, by allowing co-funding and co-payment, it could potentially reduce the direct financial burden on the government for NHS services. The exact amount of potential savings is not specified within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The bill is likely to affect:

• Patients: Some patients may be required to make co-payments or contribute to the cost of their treatment, potentially creating financial barriers to accessing healthcare.
• NHS Trusts and Providers: NHS organizations will need to adapt their procedures to accommodate co-funding and co-payment arrangements.
• Private Healthcare Providers: This could potentially lead to increased involvement of private healthcare providers in co-funding schemes.

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