1 November 2011
Patient information
Schedule 4 of the GOS contract regulations sets out a number of requirements for information to be provided to patients. PCC has recently revised their model patient information poster for display in practices, and the model patient information leaflet for providers of mobile services. Contractors may adapt these for their use, or may develop their own patient information (which must meet the requirements of the contract regulations). The new versions take account of the requirements of the Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009.
General Ophthalmic Services Contracts (Payments) Directions 2010
The latest version of these Directions which detail current sight testing and domiciliary fees is here.
updated 2 February 2011
Consequences of non payment of GOC retention fees
Each year the General Optical Council (GOC) requires all its registrants to complete a retention process in order to keep their names included in the Opticians’ Register. Last year, when the GOC removed hundreds of optometrists from the register on 1 April 2009 for failure to apply for retention, there was a great deal of disruption as PCTs started refusing payment (correctly) for sight test claims already carried out when the optometrists had become deregistered. This briefing advises PCTs and their support services agencies about the best way to keep such disruption to a minimum this year.
22 November 2010
Model Contracts
Separate model contracts for mandatory (NHS sight tests from a practice) and additional (NHS sight tests at care homes, residential homes, day centres and private residences) services that conform to the GOS Contract Regulations have been prepared by the DH. PCTs are strongly advised to use these model contracts which have been revised to include all cumulative relevant legal changes between 1 August 2008 and 31 October 2010.
• Click here to download the model contract for mandatory services
• Click here to download the model contract for additional services
Model contract variations for GOS mandatory and additional services contracts
PCC is publishing model contract variations for GOS mandatory and additional services contracts. These have been produced by the DH Legal Office and they are intended to capture all cumulative relevant legal changes since 1 August 2008. PCTs must send hard copies of these variations in duplicate to each of their GOS contractors and ensure that the contractor signs and returns the duplicate copy as soon as possible. PCTs are entitled to impose these contract variations without the consent of the contractor by virtue of paragraph 33(2) of Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the General Ophthalmic Services Contracts Regulations 2008 but they should give 14 days’ notice of the proposed variation.
• Click here to download the model variation for mandatory services
• Click here to download the model variation for additional services
11 August 2010
Guide to optical prescriptions: detail and clarification
Now that financial responsibility for the GOS and optical voucher budgets has been devolved to PCTs, we have been asked to publish a guide to the way in which optical prescriptions are written and, in particular, details of how to transcribe them from Plus Cyl to Minus Cyl notation and vice versa. GOS 3 forms are written in different formats and historically PCO and SSA staff were trained to read them and transpose them. In recent years a lot of the corporate memory in PCTs and agencies has been lost. This simple three page guide will be of particular interest to optical services leads and to finance staff in support services agencies and PCTs who have responsibility for pricing GOS claims. PCC is grateful to Richard Booth, optometric adviser to NHS Western Cheshire, who prepared the guide.
10 November 2009
Virtual guide to General Ophthalmic Services
This virtual document encompasses links to a wide range of useful resources for managing the GOS. These include the three existing guidance modules which were produced to complement the 2008 GOS contract changes, all relevant regulations including the Optical Charges and Payments Regulations and the existing helpdesk knowledgebase. Its purpose is to ensure that nobody should be in any doubt about the service and that the management of the service should be as standardised as possible, meaning that all stakeholders should have a clear understanding of the system as well as of patients’ eligibility for treatment.
1 October 2009
Extension of claim period for Continuing Education and Training (CET) Payment
PCTs should note that the claim period for the CET payment this year has been extended to 31 October 2009.
The central ophthalmic payments system has been updated to allow claims to be entered until that date without any warning message being displayed and a notice is on the system website. Claim forms show the old deadline but PCTs should continue to accept claims until 31 October 2009.
23 June 2009
General Ophthalmic Services - payments for continuing education and training - 2008 CET
On 17 June, DH issued a 'dear colleague' letter detailing arrangements for payments for loss of earnings in respect of continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners on PCT lists and the level of payment in respect of 2007 CET which is payable this year.
A notice was also published in The Week this week asking PCT chief executives to ensure that appropriate payments are made to ophthalmic contractors as outlined in the letter.
The letter and associated documents are available on the DH website at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_100985
22 January 2009
New GOS Sight Testing and Domiciliary Fees Published
The Department of Health has now published new GOS sight testing fees and domiciliary fees to take effect from 1 April 2008. There is also a new rate for the pre-registration supervisors grant. The letter also includes a figure for the 2009 continuing education and training allowance but no action should be taken on this yet and further directions will be issued. Details of the new fees and allowances and new payment directions can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Primarycare/Optical/index.htm
PCTs or their support services agencies should pay arrears of the new sight testing fees and domiciliary fees as soon as possible to bring those fees claimed since 1 April 2008 up to the new fee levels.
5 January 2009
Revised Guidance on Optical Vouchers submitted by Internet Suppliers of Glasses
As a result of changes to the Optical Charges and Payments Regulations 1997 we have revised our guidance on optical vouchers submitted by internet suppliers of glasses. Read the revised guidance here.
21 October 2008
Income related employment and support allowance/GOS form changes
This letter from the Department of Health contains important information about the introduction of income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and GOS form changes.
Patient Records
If, however, a contract comes to an end and the practice ceases to provide GOS, the records of NHS patients should revert to the PCT, if it is not possible to transfer those records to another GOS practice which will take on those NHS patients.
Where the PCT is considering an application for a contract from a business seeking to buy a practice the presumption is that the records would be transferred to that person/business following award of the contract.
LOC Model Constitution
In light of the changes to GOS Contract which were made on 1st August 2008, DH has agreed a revised model constitution for Local Optical Committees which can be downloaded here. PCTs may want to encourage their LOCs to adopt the new Constitution as soon as possible.
Payment Directions
Please maintain the already established level of payments for sight tests.
Business Titles and General Ophthalmic Services Contracts
DH has now published guidance aimed at PCTs who have concerns about applicants for GOS contracts who may be using protected business titles unlawfully and this is available here
Optical Charges and Payments Amendment Regulations 2008
A Determination and Regulations on the redemption of optical vouchers come into force on 1st August 2008.
GOS in Hospital Premises
OMP - Contracts and Pensions
Following the coming into force of the General Ophthalmic Services Contract Regulations 2008, on 1st August the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations will need to be amended with effect from that date to reflect the change in law from "General Ophthalmic Services" (GOS) to "Primary Ophthalmic Services" (POS). More detailed advice available here.
General Ophthalmic Services Contracts
Guidance on delays in the finalisation of General Ophthalmic Services Contracts here
GOS contracts - enquiries about implementation
The Department of Health, PCC and the optical representative bodies have received a significant number of enquiries in relation to the introduction of the new contracts. A common theme running through the enquiries from the representative bodies’ members is that some PCTs are using either the wrong paperwork for existing contractors, or are seeking to insert extra clauses and seeking unnecessary information during the transitional period.
More detailed advice is available here.
New Primary Ophthalmic Services and General Ophthalmic Services regulations
The new POS and GOS contract regulations were laid before Parliament on 6th May 2008. There are three sets of regulations which come into force on 1st August 2008, and transitional provisions which come into force earlier to allow PCTs to ensure implementation by 1st August 2008.
A consolidated version of the Performers List Regulations can be downloaded here.
Guidance
Guidance notes for each set of regulations are also available:
Model documentation
Model application forms and transitional documentation have been developed for PCTs to consider. NHS PCC wishes to acknowledge the help received from Faye Hilton and Richard Booth of West Cheshire PCT in the preparation of these documents.
Click here to download the model transitional provisions documentation (compressed ZIP file)
Click here to download the model transitional provisions documentation as individual files
Important implementation guidance for PCTs (16/06/08)
The Department of Health, PCC and the optical representative bodies have received a significant number of enquiries in relation to the introduction of the new contracts. A common theme running through the enquiries from the representative bodies’ members is that some PCTs are using either the wrong paperwork for existing contractors, or are seeking to insert extra clauses and seeking unnecessary information during the transitional period.
The following advice is intended to clarify areas where there may have been confusion to help simplify processes where possible and our observations below, have been agreed with the Department of Health and the optical representative bodies.
Refunds of optical costs
A new form has been created for patients to use to claim refunds of optical costs and is known as the HC5(O) claim form for a refund of optical charges . The old HC5 claim form will still be valid and supplies can be used up.
Click here to access the new form.
(04/06/08) General Ophthalmic Services - Continuing Education and Training (CET)
Payments in respect of continuing education and training undertaken by optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners on PCT lists are made annually. A letter about the arrangements for payment, the level of payment in respect of 2007 CET, a revised Determination and claim form are available from the DH website. Click here to access these documents.
5/11/07 GOS Fee Increases - Information
Increases in GOS fees have been agreed by The Department of Health and the Optometric Fees Review Committee. GOS fees (including domiciliary fees) will increase by 2.5% as will the CET payment to be paid next year.
An increase in the Grant to Supervisors of Pre-Registration Optometrists from £2665 to £2800 has also been agreed. With the exception of the CET payment these are all backdated to 1 April 2007.
The Sight Test Fee becomes £19.32, and domiciliary fees are increased to £34.02 for each of the first and second patients seen at one visit and £8.52 for each of the third and subsequent patients seen at one visit. The CET allowance for 2007 is £447 (to be claimed in 2008) and the 2007/8 pre-registration supervisors grant, £2,800.
The Department of Health will be formally notifying PCTs of these increases through the Director of Finance Bulletin shortly.
A Statutory Instrument giving effect to the change in England will be introduced in Parliament and on coming into force the new sight test fee, and back payments, will be payable.
(10/9) Briefing note on ophthalmic regulations
PCC has issued a briefing note based on DH's clarification of the main aims of the new opthalmic regulations under the powers of the Health Act 2006.
Click here to read the notice in full.
Redemption of optical vouchers submitted by internet suppliers
DH's view on this issue is that vouchers submitted by internet suppliers of optical appliances should be redeemed by the PCT where the patient lives. Access information about the redemption of optical vouchers submitted by internet suppliers
DH Findings from GOS review and toolkit
In 2007 the Department of Health launched its findings from the General Ophthalmic Services Review. The main outcome is a commissioning toolkit that provides practical advice for primary care trusts and practice based commissioners on the commissioning of community based eye care services.
The toolkit builds on the evaluation of the chronic eye care pilots, which tested community based pathways for glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and low vision services. The GOS review’s findings on a range of other matters have also been published.
Access the DH Ophthalmic toolkit
Payment to suspended General Ophthalmic Services contractors and assistants
SI2006 No1550 came into force on 19 July 2007 amending existing regulations to be paid to suspended GOS contractors and assistants. Download the payment to suspended General Ophthalmic Services contractors and assistants document
Notifications by Mobile Operators - Updated February 2006
The latest version of the Notifications by Mobile Operators was agreed by the National NHS Ophthalmic Payments System User Group and FODO (The Federation of Dispensing Opticians) at and is being recommended by both FODO and the Association of Optometrists (AOP) to their respective members. The modified form now includes a column to record the patients National Insurance number.
A Determination and Regulations on the redemption of optical vouchers come into force on 1st August 2008.
The Department of Health has now published new GOS sight testing fees and domiciliary fees to take effect from 1 April 2008. There is also a new rate for the pre-registration supervisors grant. The letter also includes a figure for the 2009 continuing education and training allowance but no action should be taken on this yet and further directions will be issued. Details of the new fees and allowances and new payment directions can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Primarycare/Optical/index.htm