Health Insurance (Medical Prescribing Practitioners) (Jersey) Order 2018

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision
providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 12 October 2018:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2018-0062
Decision Summary Title :	DS_Make Approved Medical Prescriber Order		Date of Decision Summary:	09 October 2018
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR_ Make Approved Medical Prescriber Order		Date of Written Report:	09 October 2018
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Health Insurance (Medical Prescribing Practitioners) (Jersey) Order 2018
Decision(s): The Minister made the Health Insurance (Medical Prescribing Practitioners) (Jersey) Order 2018
Reason(s) for Decision: In July 2016 the Assembly approved amendments to the Health Insurance Law to expand the type of practitioners who may issue prescriptions funded by the Health Insurance Fund. Prior to this amendment, the Health Insurance Law enabled only GPs (approved medical practitioners) and dentists (registered dentists) to issue Health Insurance Fund prescriptions. The Minister has made this Order to enable doctors who are not general practitioners to prescribe at cost to the Health Insurance Fund. The doctors who will be approved under this Order must be practicing in primary care and may only prescribe at cost to the Health Insurance Fund having been endorsed by the Medical Director of the Health and Community Services Department. Prescribing Medical Practitioners will include those offering specialist care in Jersey Hospice. Expanding the class of practitioners who may prescribe at cost to the Health Insurance Fund will improve patient care by ensuring timely access to medicine.
Resource Implications: Medical Prescribers will issue Pharmaceutical Benefit at cost to the Health Insurance Fund, however no significant increase in expenditure is anticipated. The majority of medicines prescribed by this new class of prescriber would have been prescribed by a General Practitioner at cost to the Health Insurance Fund. Cost may be saved where specialist doctors can achieve a high standard of medicines management, reducing duplication and medicines waste.
Action required: Policy Principal to notify the Greffier of the States and the Law Draftsman that the Order has been made so that it may be notified to the States, and forward the signed and sealed Order immediately to the States Greffe for publication and archiving.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):