Amendment to the Optical Charges and Payments Regulations
8. (1) The Optical Charges and Payments Regulations are amended as follows.
(2) In regulation 1(2)( interpretation:);—
(a) after the definition of “disability element” insert—

““electronic form” means the submission of information electronically via a computer system approved by the Board;”;

(b) for the definition of “voucher” substitute—

““voucher” for the purposes of enabling a payment to be made under these Regulations means—
(a) in Part 3, a voucher form approved by the Secretary of State or the Board which is used by a person with whom the Board has entered into a general ophthalmic services contract under section 117 of the 2006 Act (general ophthalmic services contracts: introductory);
(b) in Part 4, a voucher form—
(i) where a sight test is carried out by an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust, supplied by that NHS trust or NHS foundation trust; and
(ii) in any other case, approved by the Secretary of State or the Board and used by the person who carries out the sight test;
(c) in Part 5, a voucher form—
(i) where an optical appliance is repaired or replaced by an NHS trust or NHS foundation trust, supplied by that NHS trust or NHS foundation trust;
(ii) in any other case, approved by the Secretary of State or the Board”.

(3) In regulation 5(2)(b)(i) (payments to ophthalmic practitioners), after “completed voucher” insert “(which may be submitted in either electronic or paper form)”.
(4) In regulation 14(2)(c)(ii) (payments to suppliers), after “completed voucher” insert “(which may be submitted in either electronic or paper form)”.
(5) In regulation 19(2)(b)(iii) (payments to suppliers for the replacement or repair), after “completed voucher” insert “(which may be submitted in either electronic or paper form)”.
(6) Regulation 26 (signatures and claims for payments) is renumbered as paragraph (1) of that regulation.
(7) After regulation 26(1) as so renumbered, insert—

“(2) A signature required by these Regulations must—
(i) where an electronic form is used, be in digital ink, or
(ii) where a paper form is used be in ink,
and must be in the signatory’s own handwriting with the signatory’s initials or forename and surname and not by means of a stamp or a reproduced image.”.