Regulations for service providers and managers

Page last updated: 7 August 2024

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Regulation 19: Fees

Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009: Regulation 19

The intention of this regulation is to make sure that providers give timely and accurate information about the cost of their care and treatment to people who use services.

To meet this regulation, providers must make written information available about any fees, contracts and terms and conditions, where people are paying either in full or in part for the cost of their care, treatment and support.

CQC can prosecute for a breach of this regulation or a breach of part of the regulation. This means that CQC can move directly to prosecution without first serving a warning notice. Additionally, CQC may also take other regulatory action. See the offences section for more detail.

CQC must refuse registration if providers cannot satisfy us that they can and will continue to comply with this regulation.

The regulation in full

19.—

  1. Where a service user will be responsible for paying the costs of their care or treatment (either in full or partially), the registered person must provide a statement to the service user, or to a person acting on the service user's behalf—
    1. specifying the terms and conditions in respect of the services to be provided to the service user, including as to the amount and method of payment of fees; and
    2. including, where applicable, the form of contract for the provision of services by the service provider.
  2. The statement referred to in paragraph (1) must be—
    1. in writing; and
    2. as far as reasonably practicable, provided prior to the commencement of the services to which the statement relates.

Guidance

This sets out the guidance providers must have regard to against the relevant component of the regulation.

19(1) Where a service user will be responsible for paying the costs of their care or treatment (either in full or partially), the registered person must provide a statement to the service user, or to a person acting on the service user's behalf—

19(1)(a) specifying the terms and conditions in respect of the services to be provided to the service user, including as to the amount and method of payment of fees; and

19(1)(b) including, where applicable, the form of contract for the provision of services by the service provider.

19(2) The statement referred to in paragraph (1) must be—

19(2)(a) in writing; and

19(2)(b) as far as reasonably practicable, provided prior to the commencement of the services to which the statement relates.