QOF business rules coding issues – update for practice teams

Please note that no action is currently needed by practices on this matter, but you should read the information carefully.

Following the introduction of the SNOMED-CT coding in 2018/19, NHS Digital’s business rules team has been converting and mapping the READ and CTV3 codes into SNOMED, which has proved difficult and complex.

Although there was always an expectation that there would be some errors as there are each year with the baseline version of QOF, a larger number than in previous years have been detected: 

  • 85 codes have been identified and queried from the v39 baseline QOF business rules (0.5% of all the codes).
  • Of these 85 queried codes, 67 were incorrect and have been changed in v41 of the business rules.
  • The 67 codes that have been changed impact on the following QOF registers:
    • AF
    • CHD
    • Asthma
    • CVD
    • Dementia
    • Epilepsy
    • Heart failure
    • Osteoporosis
    • Smoking
    • Stroke

It was therefore agreed that v40, the mid-year release, would not be implemented as new errors were continuing to be reported, and that v41 would be used instead.

QOF data on the EMIS system or in CQRS may currently seem inaccurate, but this will be addressed by v41, which is the version which will be used for payment.

NHS England and NHS Digital are aware that as a result of this, there may be closer scrutiny to achievement at year end than usual and additional work for practices and commissioners.

As a result, there may also be an increase in queries raised before practices and commissioners are happy to sign off achievement. NHS England will contact local commissioners and NHS England local teams requesting that where possible they support practices in resolving any queries as quickly and efficiently as possible and ensuring workload is kept to a minimum. NHS Digital will ensure their customer service team are fully briefed on the issues raised and will anticipate the possibility of an increase in activity this year end. The support teams will be ready and able to support practices with their queries.

Thank you to Surrey and Sussex LMCs for sharing this information.

Last updated : 19 Feb 2019

 

GP Contract changes – Coronavirus provisions extended (21 Oct 2020)

At the end of September NHS England wrote to practices and commissioners reminding them of the 2020-21 GP Contract changes and announcing announced the extension of some temporary measures introduced...
Read more »

GMC publish new consent guidance (21 Oct 2020)

The GMC have updated their guidance in relation to consent – the guidance comes into effect on 9 November 2020 and can be accessed at the link below: Guidance...
Read more »

Health Select Committee pandemic report (21 Oct 2020)

Amongst other things,Parliament’s Health and Social Care Select Committee called for improvements in referral handling at the primary/secondary care interface, better staff testing (including for GPs and staff) and quoted...
Read more »

Tips of the Month October 2020 (21 Oct 2020)

We provide weekly tips based on common queries which come through to us from London GPs and practice teams. These are shared via social media and collated for...
Read more »

NHS 111 First roll-out (21 Oct 2020)

By 1 December NHS 111 will be able to book appointments at emergency departments (EDs) within all London hospitals. This will coincide with a campaign encouraging patients to contact NHS...
Read more »

Calling all general practice managers, business managers, HR managers, finance managers, operational managers, managing partners and site managers (24 Sep 2020)

As part of our Practice Manager Development project, we are able to offer you an opportunity to take-up a fully...
Read more »

Appraisal resumes and GMC to consider Coronavirus impact during investigations (23 Sep 2020)

NHS England has instructed GPs to resume the appraisal process from 1 October, although this will be in a form which is intended to reduce the amount of paperwork involved,...
Read more »

Coronavirus protection for London general practice (23 Sep 2020)

As the only truly independent voice for London general practice, Londonwide LMCs continues to provide constructive challenge on behalf of GPs, nurses and the whole team in each and every...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page