Publication of the 2015-16 ‘tariff’ prices for NHS services has been held back amid high level political discussions about the possibility of securing extra funding for health in the autumn statement, HSJ understands.

NHS England and Monitor, which share responsibility for pricing under the Health Act 2012, had planned to begin formal public consultation last week on their proposed tariff for 2015-16.

However, the tariff remains unpublished, and as of this morning there was no firm date for its expected release.

Nick Clegg

Setting aside the right amount of money for winter pressures is a high priority, Nick Clegg said

Two well placed sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to HSJ that the pricing authorities had been asked to hold back publication of the tariff while political discussions were underway about the possibility of securing extra funding for the health service in 2015-16.

The hiatus comes amid last minute wranglings ahead of chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement, which will be given on 3 December.

The tariff is used to set prices for services that are paid at a nationally fixed rate. It also sets financial rules such as those governing when and how local NHS organisations can diverge from nationally fixed prices.

Sources expect a decision on the publication date for the tariff to be made this week.

HSJ understands that while there are no specific technical reasons for the delay to the tariff publication, there is a general desire on the government’s part to keep its options open.

The Liberal Democrats have pushed for the NHS’s funding settlement for 2015-16 - set out in the chancellor’s last spending review - to be “in effect reopened”, amid escalating political anxiety about the strain on health service finances.

Deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg last month told HSJ that he was working with chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander to ensure the “right amount” of funding for 2015-16 was built into the autumn statement.

He said that “in our discussions with David Cameron and George Osborne, right at the top of our list of priorities will be to ensure we set aside the right amount of money such that any winter pressures in 2015-16 will be properly catered for”.

According to a report by The Guardian this afternoon, the deputy prime minister has told a Westminster press conference that he believes the autumn statement will “contain a pledge to spend an extra £1.5bn on the NHS”.

A Department of Health spokesman approached by HSJ described the words ascribed to the deputy prime minister as “speculation”. He added that any enquiries about the timing of the tariff’s publication should be directed to NHS England and Monitor.

A Monitor spokesman told HSJ: “We are still waiting for key information before we are able to finalise the 2015-16 national tariff payment system consultation notice and are grateful to partners and stakeholders for their patience over this delay.” 

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