NHS England pilots new post payment verification system

The Optical Confederation is working with NHS England and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) to develop a new method of  post payment verification (PPV) of GOS claims.

NHS England and the NHSBSA are piloting this new PPV method in two areas, Wessex and West Yorkshire, to gain a better understanding of the level of errors made in claims and provide assurance to NHS England that contractor claims are appropriate.

NHS England has a duty to ensure claims are checked, but the optical sector has had real concerns about the way in which previous PPV exercises have been carried out. The Optical Confederation has therefore worked closely with NHS England and the NHSBSA on the pilot, and will continue to do so, to ensure that the process is fair and equitable to all practices.

NHS England’s interest in piloting the new process is partly driven by a recent unpublished report by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, which suggested that the optical sector is at significant risk of both patient and contractor fraud. The Optical Confederation has challenged these findings and asked to see the evidence. We have not yet been shown the report, and therefore remain sceptical about its findings.

Notes

2. Due to resource issues, NHS England have not conducted PPV on a large scale in the optical sector, however they have a duty to ensure claims are checked.
3. The pilot areas that have been selected are Wessex and West Yorkshire. Practices taking part in the pilot in these areas will be selected using both a risk-based model and also a random selection. If the pilot is successful this process will be rolled out across England.