Health Insurance (Amendment No. 14) (Jersey) Law 201-: Appointed Day Act

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

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demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 12 November 2012:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2012-0090
Decision Summary Title :	DS Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201- : Appointed Day Act		Date of Decision Summary:	12 November 2012
Decision Summary Author:	Policy and Strategy Director		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201- : Appointed Day Act		Date of Written Report:	12 November 2012
Written Report Author:	Policy and Strategy Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201- : Appointed Day Act
Decision(s): The Minister decided to lodge ‘au Greffe’ for States debate an Appointed Day Act to bring into force the Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201- .
Reason(s) for Decision: The Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201- will allow the Minister for Social Security to enter into contracts for the provision of primary healthcare services, with the cost to be met from the Health Insurance Fund. It introduces the concept of a GP “performers list” which is an essential part of the new governance framework being developed for local GPs. The amendment also provides for the ongoing funding of a primary care governance unit which will administer contracts under the Health Insurance Law, oversee the performers list and provide the local regulatory framework for GPs which will allow them to retain their professional status under the UK General Medical Council.
Resource Implications: There are no resource implications in respect of the Appointed Day Act itself. The Act brings into effect the Health Insurance (Amendment No.14) (Jersey) Law 201-. Financial and manpower implications for these amendments were set out in P.136/2011.
Action required: Policy and Strategy Director to request the Greffier of the States to lodge ‘au Greffe’ the above-mentioned projet by 13 November and to list it for States debate on 11 December 2012.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Health Insurance (Amendment No. 14) (Jersey) Law 201-: Appointed Day Act

Report

Last year the States Assembly approved Amendment No. 14 to the Health Insurance Law (P.136/2011 as amended). Amendment No.14 makes significant changes to the Health Insurance Law to facilitate improvements in the governance and provision of GP and primary care services. For the benefit of newly elected members, a copy of P.136 (and P.136Amd) is included as an appendix to this report.

In summary, Amendment No.14 allows the Minister for Social Security to enter into contracts for the provision of primary healthcare services, with the cost to be met from the Health Insurance Fund. It introduces the concept of a GP “performers list” which is an essential part of the new governance framework being developed for local GPs. The amendment also provides for the ongoing funding of a primary care governance unit which will administer contracts under the Health Insurance Law, oversee the performers list and provide the local regulatory framework for GPs which will allow them to retain their professional status under the UK General Medical Council. Finally, the amendment provides for the possibility of a link between patient registration and the payment of the medical benefit.

Excellent progress has been made in these areas during 2012.

Permanent staff for the primary care governance unit have been recruited and are already building up good working relationships with local GPs and other primary health care providers.

A Jersey quality contract has been developed with local GP practices which will provide an element of GP funding linked to the performance of the practices against an agreed series of health indicators. This is ready to be implemented in early 2013.

Good progress has also been made on the detailed regulations that will define the details of the GP performer’s list. The Minister for Health and Social Services is responsible for bringing forward these regulations.

Implementation

Articles 8 and 11 of the Health Insurance (Amendment No. 14) (Jersey) Law 2012 require GPs to be included on the performers list in order to claim medical benefit from the Health Insurance Fund. As the performers list regulations will be lodged separately by the Minister for Health and Social Services, these two articles will come into force at the same time as the performers list regulations (Article 27A of the main Law).

All the other articles will come into force on 1 January 2013.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no direct financial or manpower implications in respect of the appointed day act. The overall implications of P.136/2011 are included within the appendix.

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