Last Updated on April 3, 2017
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has to change the fees it charges health and adult social care providers to be regulated. While the changes will differ across the different types of health and adult social care services, CQC is asking providers to give their feedback on whether the rate of the changes to 'full cost recovery' should take place over two or four years, starting from 1 April 2016.
David Behan, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission said, ‘Our commitment is to make sure that people receive safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care and we can see that our new inspection model is allowing us to support providers to do exactly that. The fees providers pay enables this important work to happen.
‘We recognise the financial pressures faced by many providers, and do not underestimate the impact of any changes to their fees. We developed our proposals with an expert panel; including representatives from the providers we regulate.’
The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has commented that the proposed 313% increase in fees for homecare agencies, phased over the next 2 or 4 years, ‘flies in the face of gross underfunding of state-funded social care, with a £3.6bn shortfall in council funding which has already placed fees paid for care by councils at unacceptably low levels.
‘The new CQC fee increase represents an above-inflation increase in operating costs, despite 93% of homecare providers reporting a real terms reduction in fee rates paid by councils over the last twelve months.’
Colin Angel, UKHCA’s Policy Director said, ‘Having represented homecare providers on CQC’s fees advisory panel, the proposed increases are outrageous…the Commission is yet to demonstrate that it represents good value for money for the organisations it regulates.’
UKHCA also notes that CQC is currently behind in hitting its inspection targets and is already set to miss its deadline to inspect all adult social care, and out of hours services in England by 30 September next year.
Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) has said that ‘the sustained downward pressure on funding is placing negative effects on service delivery and quality. CQC put these observations on record last month with the publication of the State of Care http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/state-care-201415. Despite this, CQC has today issued proposals to significantly increase its fees for adult social care providers.
Professor Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of VODG said, ‘We are enormously disappointed with CQC’s whole approach to fees. CQC has become an increasingly high cost organisation, and just last year the regulator raised fees by a staggering 9%. At that time CQC’s approach clearly lacked robust strategy, financial planning or any sensible business case. CQC seem further intent on progressing their flawed approach and, more worryingly, adding to the £4.3 billion funding gap in the sector.’
He goes on to say, ‘Just like the rest of us working in the sector, CQC needs to live within their means.’
The consultation runs until noon on 15th January 2016. CQC will then review all responses and make recommendations to the Secretary of State, who is responsible for making the final decision about fees payments, and whose consent is required in order for the scheme to come into effect. CQC expects to publish the final fees scheme in March 2016, for implementation on 1 April 2016.
CQC’s full press release can be found here. http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/cqc-invites-providers-comment-proposed-changes-fee-payment-scheme