High Cost Tariff-Excluded Devices program is now called Specialised Service Devices program

In early June 2022, NHS England and NHS Improvement updated information about the nationwide purchase and supply system for High Cost Tariff-Excluded Devices, which was introduced in 2016. The name of the program changed to the Specialised Service Devices program (SSDP).

Delivery of the SSDP has been planned in two phases. The first phase saw the migration of all NHS providers commissioned to deliver specialized services in England to a national supply system for the 15 device categories in scope. The second phase is designed to optimize device choice across the identified categories to enhance patient outcomes, improve the value and deliver cash releasing and commissioner savings. To achieve this, device working groups (DWGs) will develop a clinical utilization methodology to reduce unwarranted variation in the extensive range of available devices. NHS Supply Chain will deliver price reductions on purchased devices. The DWGs will have a role in horizon scanning to accelerate the adoption of new devices demonstrated to add value.

The current status of the SSDP was updated:

• The program has completed the majority of migrations in phase I, and ongoing support will continue for any legacy issues;
• Following the program's restart in autumn 2020, migrations of high-cost tariff-excluded device categories to the national supply route have progressed well, and delivery is now underway for phase II;
• The current remit of the program has grown to include links with wider innovations in the devices field and work on procurement processes for prosthetics centers;
• Clinical chairs and advisors in the device working groups (DWG) are continuing to refine the process for inclusion of new devices and range extensions within the existing national catalog, as well as continuing work on device category specifications;
• The financial reconciliation process for in-scope devices is well established, and the program will continue to work with NHS providers to adapt and refine this as arrangements change;
• There are 15 categories of devices currently covered by the program. In addition to the current devices within the program, several new categories are now to be included. These are known as 1a migrations, and work to move these additional categories to the central supply route will take place during the 2022/23 financial year.

See the more details here.

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