This paper is the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) response to providers' comments on the consultation on their regulatory fees from April 2011 under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. It summarises the changes that will be made to the proposed fees scheme following the consultation, and points that will be considered for development as part of the consultation for April 2012.

The CQC received 767 responses to the consultation out of a total provider base of around 21,000. The sectors who responded included providers of adult social care, independent healthcare, dental providers, the NHS, charities and stakeholder organisations who will enter regulation in 2012.  The majority of responses (516) were from dental providers. The document includes a summary of overarching issues raised by all respondents, including concern that fee increases are taking place during a prolonged period when budgets have come under pressure.