How to view a patient's Chargeable Status

‘Chargeable Status’ shows whether a patient must pay for NHS services. If a Home Office status or overseas visitor manager (OVM) record exists for a patient, the Chargeable Status banner will be visible at the top of their National Care Record Service (NCRS) record. 

OVMs work in NHS organisations and determine whether a patient has to pay for healthcare services depending on their immigration status. 

Home Office status in NCRS is taken from Home Office systems and could be out of date. OVM records are created in NCRS and show when the patient’s Chargeable Status was last checked by the OVM. 

Read the government guidance on charging overseas visitors for NHS services (opens in a new tab) for more information about the role of an OVM.

The Chargeable Status banner can be seen by any user that can view a patient’s record. However only roles with these role-based access control (RBAC) codes can view a patient’s Home Office status and OVM records:

• B0259 – can create and edit OVM records but not Chargeable Status
• B0266 – can create and edit OVM records and can also edit Chargeable Status

Red statuses

‘Red: Chargeable for NHS services’ – this will also include the date that the status was last checked by an OVM, if this information is available

‘Red: Likely chargeable for NHS services’ – it is likely that this patient will have to pay for NHS services based on their immigration status but an OVM must check

Amber statuses

‘Amber: An unexpected timeout occurred - please try again’ – NCRS could not get information about a patient’s Chargeable Status in time

'Amber: Unable to get Immigration Status (error {number}). Please contact National Service Desk to resolve.’ – NCRS could not get information about a patient’s Chargeable Status for a technical reason, you should quote the error number when you contact the National Service Desk

Green statuses

‘Green: Access to free NHS services subject to exceptions - checked by OVM on {date}' – the patient can access some NHS services for free, the OVM record should be checked for details

‘Green: Access to free NHS services subject to OR status - check evidence’ – the patient can access some NHS services for free, the OVM record should be checked for details

‘Green: Paid/Exempt IHS – check if entitled to ACS’ – patient does not have to pay for NHS services because they have paid their Immigration Health Surcharge but OVM record should be checked to see if they are entitled to assisted conception services

‘Green: Paid/Exempt IHS’ – patient does not have to pay for NHS services because they have paid their Immigration Health Surcharge

‘Green: Paid/Exempt IHS not entitled to ACS’ – patient does not have to pay for NHS services because they have paid their Immigration Health Surcharge, but they are not entitled to assisted conception services

‘Green: Free NHS (Paid or exempt)’ – patient does not have to pay for NHS services and they are entitled to assisted conception services

If a Home Office Status exists for the patient, OVMs will be able to click ‘Chargeable Status’ within the ‘Patient’ tab.

There will be information about the patient’s Home Office status, including:

• start and end date
• Home Office reference
• Biometric Residence Permit number
• nationality
• visa type
• immigration status
• healthcare status

OVMs can click ‘Create an OVM record’ to add the patient’s Chargeable Status.