ATOS have lost the contract for the WCA(Work Capability Assessment) relating to ESA. From1/3/2015 an American private company will be responsible for the WCA medicals that your clients attend.
The government has said in a statement that 'most of the Atos employees currently employed on this contract will transfer to MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd; who will also use the existing Atos infrastructure and IT. The new provider will therefore be able to step into the contract without disrupting the service.'
During our training on the subject you tell us that major problems at medicals for your clients are-
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● The lack of specialists who understand their conditions
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● Long delays in getting medical appointments
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● Poor quality of reports
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● Distress caused for clients
Maximus have said 'Assessments for people who need health-related benefits should be timely, respectful and fair...First, we want to reduce waiting times without compromising quality by bringing in more health care professionals. Second, we want to improve the quality of the assessment through a number of initiatives, such as expanding the number of medical professionals who specialise in mental health and understand how fuctuating conditions can be better refected in assessments. Finally, we want to make the assessment process more straightforward by introducing new ways to help customers complete forms and access sources of independent advice.'
There is currently a backlog of around 600,000 cases waiting for assessment. Separately, the government is considering a proposal, for new claimants, to limit the WRAC(Work Related Activity Component) to only 50 pence instead of £28.75.
Help your clients make make better claims for ESA- join us for our Claiming as 'sick'- the WCA course taking place in November.