The Competition Commission is looking into all aspects of private healthcare in the UK. It is interesting to note that in its recent Issues Statement that it is looking at the problems caused by some Insurers manipulating the market by trying to insist that specialists comply with their fee maxima for procedures. If you would like more information, please get in touch.

‘If insurers are suppressing consultant fees to a level below those which would prevailin a competitive market, this could lead to a reduction in the quality of service provided by consultants to patients and affect the incentives to innovate. In addition, there may be distortions to competition between consultants when caps on the reimbursement of fees are applied to some consultants (eg newer or junior consultants) and not to others (eg more experienced ones). In the longer term, this may result in a shortage of consultants willing to practice and in a reduction in the potential output of the sector.’