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Written question asked by Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative) on Friday, 6 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 March 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Neurodiversity: Diagnosis

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend that the 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme consultation outcome in respect of guide prices for ADHD and autism assessments will be agreed to by Ministers before implementation.

Answer

The full responsibility for developing and setting the National Tariff, which is a set of rules, prices, and guidance that determine how providers of National Health Service funded healthcare are paid for the services they provide, was given to NHS England through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The Health and Care Act 2022 confirmed this responsibility and renamed the ‘National Tariff’ to the ‘NHS Payment Scheme’. The legislation relating to the NHS Payment Scheme is set out in schedule 10 of the 2022 Act.

Under NHS England’s ‘Scheme of Delegation’, responsibility for approving the NHS Payment Scheme rests with the Chief Executive Officer of NHS England, delated to the Chief Financial Officer of NHS England. Ministerial agreement of the consultation is not currently a requirement of the regulations set out in the act.

NHS England will continue to work with policy teams at the Department and wider stakeholders to further develop currencies and consider appropriate payment options for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, in line with the overall direction set by ministers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL15294
Session
2024-26
Related items
NHS Payment Scheme
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Autism Diagnosis ADHD NHS payment scheme
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk