Overview

This bill proposes to allow for co-funding and co-payment for National Health Service (NHS) services in England. This means patients may be asked to contribute financially towards their care, either directly or through a third party.

Description

The bill amends the National Health Service Act 2006. Key changes include:

• Amendment of Section 1: The Secretary of State's duty to provide a comprehensive health service will now explicitly allow for co-funding and co-payment arrangements in England.
• New Section 12F: This new section formally permits co-funding of NHS care in England. Co-funding can involve patients or third parties contributing financially to NHS-commissioned care.
• Definition of Co-payment: The bill clarifies that co-payments can include payments made through the co-funding arrangements outlined above.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not directly specified. However, the introduction of co-payments and co-funding may potentially reduce government expenditure on NHS services in England, as some costs are shifted to patients or other funding sources. No specific figures are provided within the bill.

Groups Affected

The bill could affect several groups:

• Patients in England: They may face increased costs for some NHS services if co-payment schemes are introduced.
• NHS Trusts and Providers: They would be responsible for implementing and administering any co-funding or co-payment schemes.
• Third-party payers (e.g., insurers): They may be involved in co-funding arrangements for patient care.

Powered by nyModel