Provider Selection Regime consultation to be introduced in Health and Care Bill 

Provider Selection Regime consultation to be introduced in Health and Care Bill
The new rules will underpin how locally enhanced eye care services are commissioned so of key importance to professionals.

DHSC has opened a consultation on the proposed Provider Selection Regime (PSR) in England. PSR will replace existing procurement rules for arranging locally commissioned healthcare services in England.

The powers to establish these new rules are set out in the Health and Care Bill.

Once the bill is passed and becomes law, regulations and statutory guidance will specify details about the PSR.

The new rules if adopted will underpin how locally enhanced eye care services are commissioned.

Further News and Clarification on key issues affected by the Health and Care Bill 

The Health and Care Bill is reaching its final Parliamentary stages, the DHSC has published summary fact sheets about key elements in the bill.

These include:

• Integrated Care Boards and local health and care systems in England (here)
• Provider selection and patient choice in England (here)
• Professional regulation UK (here).

The fact sheet on ICBs refers to transferring commissioning responsibilities for primary care services to ICBs, But the DHSC and NHSE have already confirmed that this relates only to where the contracts are held (for example, before NHS England, PCTs used to keep them).

They also said that General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) in England would remain a national demand-led service under nationally agreed GOS contracts (fixed practice and domiciliary) and nationally negotiated fees and grants, with no local variation.