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