BUPA’s introduction of its recent tender process has caused anger and grave concern amongst private physiotherapists. BUPA is the largest private medical insurer in the UK and has been reviewing orthopedic services recently, now moving on to the reported inequalities in private physiotherapy services. BUPA’s intentions are stated to be to look at the alleged inequalities in quality, cost and customer service in physiotherapy provision across the country. Six thousand physiotherapists have been effectively requested to enter a price competition to be allocated BUPA patients.

The tender process initiated by BUPA involves physiotherapists and practices filling in an online questionnaire by Friday 24th April, setting out information about their practice, quality requirements, the best prices they can offer and parking offered. They will be allowed to be a BUPA Approved Physiotherapy Provider only if they pass this process. BUPA is reportedly looking to ensure high quality physiotherapy provision close to patients’ homes at a good price, with an attempt to get session length standardised within clinical variability.

The prices indicated in BUPA’s tender document are:

Central London: initial assessment 55; follow-up treatments 45

Outer London: assessment 45; follow-up treatments 35

Rest of the country: assessment 40; follow-up treatments 30

Physiotherapists and practices have to fill in a lot of information for the tender including their sessional prices and value for money, the experience patients have in their practice, quality of treatment and practice facilities. Physiotherapy has not been particularly singled out for this rather tough process as ophthalmology and magnetic resonance imaging have already been scrutinised in this way, apparently with a 10 million pound saving.

Once BUPA has reviewed the tender submissions it may grant physiotherapists a contract for two years without increased prices. If things go well a two year continuation could be granted, with annual prices increases. Two hundred percent differences between physiotherapy prices are quoted by BUPA as indicative of anomalies, with costs varying between 25 and 85 pounds. Large cost differences can occur in practices which are geographically very close, and with treatment frequency for similar conditions varying from one to sixteen consultations it is these anomalies BUPA is trying to address.

Dr Rebecca Small, assistant medical director for BUPA UK Health Insurance, said: "Recent changes in the NHS mean that physiotherapists are increasingly being required to demonstrate the effectiveness of what they do in terms of clinical outcomes and cost. No such requirements exist in the independent sector. We want to work with physiotherapists and their representative bodies to address both the variation in the provision of physiotherapy and the cost for private patients so that together we can continue to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care and drive better value for our customers.

"We are also increasingly being asked by our customers for more information about the physiotherapists who treat them. Our new approach to physiotherapy will enable us to meet this growing need…. Our initiative is designed to offer customers high quality healthcare at affordable prices and, whilst it is disappointing that both organisations have decided not to support it, we respect their position."

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and PhysioFirst, the representative organisation of private practitioners, having been working cooperatively on this matter, indicating to BUPA the potential disadvantages of their approach. They have now instructed solicitors to present a formal case to the Office of Fair Trading against BUPA’s tender process.

Unfair and inappropriate is the comment on the process which Phil Gray, chief executive of the CSP, gave about the tender system, due to patients’ clinical variation and physiotherapists’ variations in expertise and ability. He added that he felt the tender process and the proposed revised contracts were not compatible with a competitive market and effective patient choice. Private physiotherapists and NHS physiotherapy provision are both being increasingly affected by business and market forces, with the recent BUPA affair being the most extreme example. Many physiotherapy treatments are traditional and are ready for new business practices, with health businesses stepping in to these markets. Both PhysioFirst and the CSP have been advising on the necessity to update business skills by provision of information and courses.

Jonathan Blood Smyth is the Superintendent of [http://www.thephysiotherapysite.co.uk]Physiotherapy at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK. He writes articles about back pain, neck pain, and injury management. If you are looking for [http://www.thephysiotherapysite.co.uk/physiotherapy/physiotherapists/uk/south-yorkshire/sheffield]physiotherapists in Sheffield visit his website.

In 1946, Britain had won World War II, but was still struggling to get its economy back on track after the war had nearly destroyed it. It was a time of shortages and hardship, and the government of the day, in an attempt to make health care available to everyone began the National Health Service in 1948. When the plan was announced a year earlier, the British United Provident Association (Bupa) was formed to provide people an alternative to the NHS where they could choose where they would be treated, when it would happen and by whom it would be done.

Since then, to setting up hospitals, specialized care facilities, insurance and much more, BUPA is today one of the largest companies in the health care sector. Among its portfolio of services, health insurance is one of the largest operations. It is today, a true multinational organization with operations in three continents where it provides health and insurance services to over seven million clients.

Marketed under the brand name Bupa Heartbeat, the insurance protection available is offered in a range of options which are designed to suit the widest possible range of market needs. The options range from basic cover to complete medical expense coverage. Of course, the premiums will vary depending on the nature of the coverage taken and the age and health of the person or persons being covered.

The five levels of coverage broadly work as follows:

1. Health Care select 1.

            This is the most comprehensive of all the policies. It provides the widest coverage against costs incurred for in patient, out patient and day patient treatment for any form of sickness, including psychiatric treatment. Ambulance charges, out patient complementary medicines and a host of other costs are covered by this policy which offers the policy holder the choice of either national or local hospital network access.

2. Health care select 2.

            Much like select 1, this offers in patient, out patient, and day patient coverage as well as psychiatric treatment and a choice of either national or local hospital access. However, complimentary outpatient medicines are not covered and there are limitations on the coverage available in specific areas.

3. Health care select 3.

            The plan offers high levels of coverage for eligible treatments, both in and out- patient. However, there are limitations on the out patient treatments and psychiatric treatment is not covered. The local and national hospital network choice is available.

4. Health care select 4.

           This plan is basically a scaled down version of select 3 with further reductions in the eligibility and coverage of out treatment costs. In and day patient coverage remains extensive.

5. Health care select heart and cancer.

            This is the most basic of the health coverage plans and provides for the treatment of acute cancer and heart conditions. No other medical conditions fall under this form of cover. Hospital treatment coverage is only for the national hospital network.

Obviously the policy costs increase in accordance with the coverage offered by the plans and studying the options in detail keeping in mind ones own and one’s family medical history will help in the selection of the right plan.

Bupa health insurance is still the leading brand in UK health insurance. Bupa offers a selection of policies to fit with your budget and the level of cover that you may require. Bupa offers a telephone claims authorisation system and importantly covers cancer in full. They have a network and participating hospital list. Policies cover from inpatient and daycare only cover to fully comprehensive plans. There is also a choice of excesses to choose from.

All levels of cover include access to:

• extensive cover for eligible cancer treatment including out-patient consultations, diagnostic tests and therapies
• quality treatment with a choice of consultants and specialists
• high standards of care in a choice of up to 400 accredited hospitals*
• patient privacy in a clean and comfortable environment, usually with an en suite room
• cover for acute heart and eligible cancer conditions
• 24-hour Healthline offering medical information and guidance

Private health and care company, Bupa has called on the Government to be more supportive of health at work services by removing the heavy tax penalties that currently apply.

Bupa argues that as the system currently stands, both the employer and employee face tax hits if an employer provides treatment for a member of staff to return to work early after a non-work injury.

Fergus Kee, managing director of Bupa UK Health Insurance, said: "The employee incurs income tax on the benefit and the employer has to pay National Insurance contributions. If that treatment is funded through health insurance, there is a further Insurance Premium Tax charge. So both the company and the receiver of healthcare are penalised."

According to Dame Carol Black’s recent Review of the Health of the Working Population, work is good for most peoples’ long-term health and family’s well-being. As a result, she proposed the measures in attempts to keep people healthy at work, and to help them return to work should they get ill.

According to the review, ill health is costing the country £100billion a year – enough to run the entire NHS. Commenting, Dame Carol Black said: "For most people their work is a key factor in their self-worth, family esteem and identity.

"So if they become sick and are not helped quickly enough, they can all too easily find themselves on a downward spiral into long-term sickness and a life on benefits. This is not only devastating for them, but also for their families. Their children suffer financially, emotionally and it can affect their long-term futures."

According to Bupa Health Insurance, the majority of employers are in favour of Government assisted health at work services, but wary of taxes, Mr Kee said: "Nine out of ten employers tells us they want more from the Government to invest in health at work and over half would invest more if there were more incentives to do so.

"We work with 80 per cent of FTSE 100 companies and thousands of smaller businesses across the country. The current tax treatment of workplace health provision is an obstacle and a strong disincentive. If removed, it would allow more companies to play their part in keeping Britain healthy." he added.

Mr Kee concluded, commenting that: "Investing in workplace health offers a triple win: better health for the individual, better productivity for the employer and increased profitability for UK plc."

Bupa Heartbeat health insurance product offers you the choice of five different levels of health insurance cover. These options range from basic cover for in-patient and surgical care, to extensive health plans. You might even find that you’re covered for a pre-existing medical condition.

Bupa client choice health insurance id provided by Bupa insurance Ltd. This policy is available on a moratorium or underwritten membership. Bupa client choice gives you the benefit of an immediate no claims discount on joining the policy. The policy covers a wide range of treatment of acute medical conditionsincluding surgery, hospital accommodation and nursing, diagnostics, out-patient consultations and therapies, treatment for cancer, private hospital treatment following an accident or emergency admission, injuries from dangerous hobbies and self-inflicted injuries.

Inpatient or day care will be in a Bupa Partnership Network hospital. Out-patient limit on Bupa Client Choice is £500 a year on GP referal with a Bupa recognised consultant. There is also £500 a year for physiotherapy and other therapies on GP or Bupa recognised consultant referal to a Bupa recognised therapist. With all In-patient and day-patient paid in full as long as treatment is received in a Bupa partnership network hospital and you see a Bupa recognised consultant. Bupa benefit limits apply if the consultant is not a Bupa partnership consultant.

BUPA has confirmed that it has bought its first US Healthcare company. It has paid £310m for Health Dialog which is the third largest and certainly one of the fastest growing specialist chronic disease management companies in the US. Fergus Kee, the managing director of BUPA health insurance has stated that this completes a "momentous year" for the Provident Association.

This now gives BUPA a real presense in the USA . Health Dialog already has a small presence in the UK and is on the department of healths list of approved contractors. The acquisition will cerytainly improve BUPA as a potential commissioner of NHS service.

Bupa select health insurance is a high class modular product that allows the customer to pick and choose a level of cover to suit not only the cover they require but also at the budget they can afford. The policy allows for a series of different outpatient levels as well as chose of excess along with a multitude of additional cover that the customer can benefit from. This is a highly recommended product from one of the best health providers in the UK.

BUPA is the UK’s largest health insurance provider. They offer a wide range of policies to the individual, family and company sector. Also BUPA have a telephone authorisation system on claims which helps speed up the claims procedure. BUPA have recently sold off their own private hospitals.

Bupa health insurance, Bupa healthcare, Bupa health insurance quote, Bupa company health insurance.