Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Rejected
Department ensures consistency and fairness in pilot health assessment services through intense oversight
Conclusion
The Department is running two distinct health assessment services, one processing most claims using its current approach and one which is testing how it might change its approach in the future. We asked the Department how it was ensuring that any issues with the pilot service were being picked up and that claimants in the trial areas were not being disadvantaged. The Department told us that in the early stages of the testing, there were relatively few claims being processed in the new way, there was a lot of support available, including senior staff reviewing “each and every case as it comes through”. It 47 Q 15 48 Qq 13, 15; C&AG’s Report, Figure 8. 49 Cystic Fibrosis Trust (RDB00002) para 4 50 Q 15 51 Q 15 52 Qq 22, 25–26, 29 Revising health assessments for disability benefits 17 also told us that it had “active management through a case manager”, which it didn’t have for the current service, which meant that it could pick up and address issues quickly.53 The Department told the us that it had a ‘very low tolerance for inconsistency between the two services’.54 The Department said that it was being very careful to ensure that it was applying the legislation in a consistent way, that it was providing the same standard of service, and that the outcomes were right for customers.55 Providing transparency to Parliament
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's implied recommendation, stating it has started publishing new HTP MI quarterly and will keep under review what data can be published. It does not address how it ensures consistency between distinct health assessment services or safeguards claimants in trial areas.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. On 19 December 2023, the department published the first in a new series of HTP MI. Publication of this MI will continue quarterly in line with the PIP Official Statistics release schedule. This release includes monthly information on the number of referrals to the Health Transformation Area (HTA). As the programme and underlying data systems mature, the department will be able to evolve this publication to report against KPIs and underlying performance metrics. Health assessments are conducted on the same legislative basis and same clinical standards across providers. The department will keep under review what data can be published on performance of the existing providers and is currently designing the publication strategy for when new FAS contracts are in place from Autumn 2024. The department already publishes overturn rates at Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) and appeal in the PIP Official Statistics and will look to include equivalent measures within future HTP statistical publications once the service is suitably developed and robust, and where publishing will provide a representative picture of the HTP’s progress.