BUPA Physiotherapy Tender Process

[Mr Manipulator]

Gone a bit quiet round here. Is evryone busy tendering?!

[Mr Manipulator]

I see we have new Q&A's from BUPA via PF/CSP. As far as I can see, they are just that, i.e. not changes to the binding terms and conditions.

[JacobI]

I have seen nothing yet that will persuade me to go ahead with the tender; interesting though, that Physiofirst are a little more clear about what they think of it all in their last message. The idea of a 'Physioplan' is interesting, but would need a lot of marketing.
Does anyone know if Bupa Wellness and Nuffield Health are connected in any way?

[Mr Manipulator]

Glad you noticed that, JacobI, the fact that CSP/PF actually expressed their opinion about the tender. I do hope others didn't miss that. It isn't outright direction but surely we can take the hint.

Interesting also to note that, on the other blog - The Physios Voice - a contributor has confirmed that BUPA has informed them that they have only had 'a trickle' of tenders so far.

[kidsphysio]

I telephoned CSP today about something else and then asked how the BUPA tender advice was going, and also if they had a copy of the BUPA contract they could email me as I seem to have mislaid mine. Not much in the way of answers from the receptionist, so I ended the call.

Interestingly I got a call back about an hour later from the CSP head of Policy! Asking what I wanted to know. Mentioned my concerns, as per this thread and stating that I felt I couldn't sign the contract as, apart from all the other concerns, I only treat children and there is nowhere in the contract that this can be clarified. I was informed of todays update from PF/CSP but during the call it was frequently stressed that if I did not tender it would be my decision and there was no guarentee there would be another opportunity later. This was said dispite my saying that I thought that PF & CSP had advised us not to tender yet. Basically I was advised to call BUPA to clarify my position... Still v. unlikely to tender unless the contract can be more specific to my speciality and everyones autonomy.

[physiobob]

I think I should restate the premise of all our discussions.

1. Bupa are a Private Medical Insurer
2. Bupa has a contract to cover their customers.
3. Physio's have a contract to provide a duty of care with their patients
4. Some of those patients have contracts with BUPA to cover the costs associated with the delivery of that care. Others do not.
5. By supporting patients with health care provision we enable companies like BUPA to exist and make money off the margins between cover they have to pay out on and revenues they generate from those customers annual fees.

Now we do not need to have a contract with the PMI, why would we? They make a business off our business, through extracting money out of their customers. We should not be looking to contract with any PMI on a fixed priced deal or in any deal that works for some of us but leaves many of our fellow physio's out in the cold.

The voice from the CSP and Physio First, for the good of the profession, should be loud and strong that they recommend that physiotherapists do NOT participate in any contractual agreement with any PMI. It is simply not in our interests.

We are in the strong position as BUPA makes their money off our services. If we all we to say no to BUPA patients unless they present free of any restricted terms and conditions, then BUPA has no business.

Get it!