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NHS SBS will apologise to GP practices double-billed for CQC fees

NHS Shared Business Services is set to apologise to GPs for sending practices two invoices for CQC registration fees following a ‘technical error’.

The CQC, which outsources its financial services to NHS SBS, said that GPs will receive an apology from the service clarifying that only one invoice needs to be paid. 

However, under GP contract changes negotiated by the BMA’s GP Committee last year, practices no longer have pay for their CQC fees, which are instead reimbursed by NHS England or their CCG

An NHS SBS spokesperson told Pulse: ‘A recent technical error resulted in a number of GP practices receiving duplicate copies of the same invoice relating to their CQC registration fee.

‘NHS SBS is writing to those affected to apologise for any inconvenience and provide reassurance that steps have been taken to prevent a similar issue in future.’

Ruth Rankine, deputy chief inspector of general practice at CQC, added: ‘Unfortunately, a number of practices recently received duplicate invoices for their CQC fees from NHS SBS.

‘NHS SBS has reassured us that they will be contacting providers to apologise for the confusion and concern that this has caused, confirm that only one invoice is payable, and to assure them action is being taken to ensure this does not happen again.’

The CQC announced earlier this year that their fees increased for practices with larger patient lists under a new formula that came into effect from April 1.