BUPA Physiotherapy Tender Process

[physiobob]

Also here is a useful posting from thephysiosvoice for a short simple email to Jane Gallagher at BUPA - [email protected] This is almost exactly what I sent her this morning..

We do think NOW is the perfect time to email Jane Gallagher saying ” I have received preliminary advice indicating there are a number of problems with the contractual terms proposed by BUPA. In particular the requirements in relation to the management and processing of insurance claims on behalf of BUPA in addition to being exceptionally onerous may be illegal. I am always willing to negotiate the terms for the provision of your services with your purchasers. I am currently unable to provide a response to the tender offer until I have received detailed clarification of the advice. I will be in touch again once I have received satisfactory clarification. Meanwhile I will continue to provide physiotherapy to BUPA’s members on the basis of the current terms of business…..” or something!!

You might also be concerned with the clear conflict of interest arising from BUPA’s ownership of BUPA Wellness and it’s provision of physiotherapy services. You might want to ask for written confirmation of how BUPA propose to ensure that there is a level playing field. You might also want to touch on the concerns about clinical governance the proposed pathways - just read many of the posts on this site

[physiobob]

Just In! The Latest eMail Alert from Physio First

Bupa Tender

Do remember that if you decide that this process is suitable for your practice then today is the last day that you can submit your tender. Bupa will close the tender process at midnight tonight, 24th April 2009.

Physio First has a message for its members from the CSP’s Chief Executive.

Bupa Tender: Further Update from the CSP

CSP and Physio First, the Society’s recognised occupational group for private practitioners, working together, are continuing to seek additional changes and clarifications to the BUPA tender process. This is to add to the significant number of alterations which were achieved in a recent meeting with BUPA and which are already on the CSP website and which have gone out via Physio First’s email alerts. These matters reflect a number of major concerns which have been expressed by Physio First and CSP members.

One of the most significant changes from our meeting with BUPA was that they backed away from their previously stated position of seeking to cut radically the number of private practitioners treating BUPA patients. They have accepted the arguments we made for the need for patient choice and local access. They have stated that they expect that a similar number to the current 6,500 practitioners to be included (subject to their tender process).

Yesterday, lawyers on behalf of CSP and Physio First sent a further letter to BUPA seeking further clarifications on three issues of the tendering process, questions about the Financial Services Act and the role of the BUPA Wellness company as a potential bidder in the tender. These are further issues raised by members.

We are aware that BUPA have responded quickly, denying there are any problems with the issues we have raised, including a denial of any competitive advantage of BUPA Wellness. Further discussions will take place between legal representatives on this.

Conclusion

The CSP and Physio First have been very active and working in close partnership to seek changes to the BUPA tender process since they announced it in late March 2009. The closing date for tenders remains midnight today – Friday 24th April.

Physio First and CSP do not like or approve of the tender process. It is clearly BUPA’s intention to seek to reduce their total costs by this tender. They claim that physiotherapy is one of their largest costs. We have instructed our lawyers to submit a formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that BUPA may be potentially abusing its dominant market position in health insurance by its approach on this tender.

However, as explained elsewhere on these web pages, a public tender with independent contractors is covered by the 1998 Competition Act. That Act means that there are legal limits to what can be done. Any attempt by organisations to recommend reasonable fixed prices to practitioners or any effort to encourage a boycott of the tender process, would mean that the CSP / Physio First was breaking the law. We are not going to do that. The decision on whether or not to participate in the tender is for each practitioner to decide.

Instead, Physio First and CSP have been seeking positive clarifications and changes made to the tender process which reflect many of the concerns which practitioners have raised. A number of those changes have been achieved. We will continue to seek further improvements where possible, which keep members of both organisations, informed of significant developments.

Phil Gray
Chief Executive
CSP

24th April 2009

[Mr Manipulator]

Extracts from Phil Gray’s (CSP CEO) statement 24.4.09:-

“if you decide that this process is suitable for your practice”

“Physio First and CSP do not like or approve of the tender process. It is clearly BUPA’s intention to seek to reduce their total costs by this tender.”

“The decision on whether or not to participate in the tender is for each practitioner to decide.”

What do these add up to?..............DO NOT TENDER!

Wait and see what happens when the dust settles and BUPA are left with an inadequate network for their Members.