s 17M Payments by Health Boards under general medical services contracts
(1) The Scottish Ministers may give directions as to payments to be made under general medical services contracts. (2) A general medical services contract must require payments to be made under it in accordance with directions for the time being in force under this section. (3) A direction under subsection (1) may in particular— (a) provide for payments to be made by reference to compliance with standards or the achievement of levels of performance; (b) provide for payments to be made by reference to— (i) any scheme or scale specified in the direction; (ii) a determination made by any person in accordance with factors specified in the direction; (c) provide for the making of payments in respect of individual practitioners; (d) provide that the whole or any part of a payment is subject to conditions (including a condition that the whole or any part of a payment is liable to be paid by a Health Board only if they are satisfied as to such conditions as may be specified in the direction); (e) make provision having effect from a date before the date of the direction, provided that, having regard to the direction as a whole, the provision is not detrimental to the persons to whose remuneration it relates. (4) Before giving a direction under subsection (1), the Scottish Ministers— (a) must consult any body appearing to them to be representative of persons to whose remuneration the direction would relate; and (b) may consult such other persons as they think appropriate. (5) References in this section to payments include fees, allowances, reimbursements, loans and repayments.